Peter Stan is an accomplished professional accordionist who both performs and teaches.  His heritage is Romani Balkan, although he was born and raised in Australia prior to coming to the U.S. when he was 12 years old.  At an early age he began to learn how to play the accordion and was taught by his father, also an accordionist, for many years. His entire family is musical and they enjoyed playing together. Peter then went on to further studies with Matthew Aldini (Queensboro Institute of Music), Dr.Jacob Nupauer, Stanley Darrow, and Joan Arnold. He has won prizes in several prestigious accordion competitions including those sponsored by the American Accordion Musicological Society and the Long Island Music Teachers Association.

Peter does a wide variety of performing as a soloist, with small groups, and with bands. He plays a broad range of musical styles including Balkan, classical, French favorites, Klezmer, popular, and contemporary. He has also performed in movies, appearing with James Earl Jones and Armando Assante, and has done numerous studio soundtrack recordings. Peter has performed on radio, cable television, off-Broadway, and for the famous Mark Morris dance group. When his schedule permits, Peter entertains (alone or with a group) at celebratory functions such as weddings, Bar Mitzvah’s, birthdays, and anniversaries.

Peter has been the lead accordionist with many bands including Slavic Soul Party, Harold Seletsky, The West End Klezmorim, and Hot Pstromi (Yale Strom). His wide range of performances includes playing at Carnegie Hall (1st Jazz and Jewish music concert),  Merkin Hall, Irving Plaza, and Joe’s Pub in New York City; the International Accordion Festival in San Antonio, Texas ; and the two-week annual Mayim Mayim Project in Fuerth, Germany.


Peter Stan’s music studio is located in the Ridgewood section of Queens, New York. He teaches private students of all ages, with skills ranging from beginner to advanced professional. He is regularly engaged as a music therapist and has received great reviews for teaching accordion at Eastern European folk life workshops.