Peter Kater (born 1952, Germany) is an internationally acclaimed composer and pianist whose work has been central to the development of New Age and contemporary instrumental music for more than four decades. Raised primarily in the United States, Kater emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s as part of a generation of artists redefining instrumental music as a vehicle for reflection, healing, and inner stillness.
Kater is best known for his lyrical, spacious piano style, marked by slow-moving harmonies, resonant silence, and a strong emotional undercurrent. Rather than emphasizing technical virtuosity, his music focuses on mood, breath, and atmosphere, often evoking natural landscapes and meditative states. This approach positioned him alongside figures such as George Winston and David Lanz, while retaining a voice distinctly his own.
A defining aspect of Kater’s career has been his long-standing collaboration with Native American musicians, most notably flutist R. Carlos Nakai. These projects, such as Migration, blend piano with Native American flute, chant, and percussion, creating cross-cultural works that emphasize spirituality, respect for tradition, and a deep connection to the natural world.
Over the course of his career, Peter Kater has released more than 60 albums, spanning solo piano works, ensemble recordings, film and documentary scores, and collaborative projects. His music has been widely used in meditation, therapeutic, and cinematic contexts, further cementing his reputation as a composer whose work functions both artistically and spiritually.
Kater has received numerous Grammy Award nominations and won the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album for Compassion (2018), a project reflecting his mature, expansive compositional voice. Despite his success, he has remained artistically independent, often self-producing and releasing music through his own label.
Today, Peter Kater is regarded as one of the foundational figures of New Age piano, respected for a body of work that prioritizes presence, emotional clarity, and timelessness over trends—music designed not to demand attention, but to gently transform the listener’s internal space.
Solo Piano & Core Studio Albums
Wings (1984), Faces (1985), Ambrosia (1986), Dreamer’s Way (1987), In the Moment (1990), Inner Landscape (1992), Evocation (1994), Migration (1995), Eternal (1997), Fields of Light (1998), River (2000), Standing in the Light (2003), Sacred Journey (2004), Indian Summer (2006), Impromptu (2009), Now & Zen (2010), Illumination (2012), Resonance (2014), Compassion (2018), (Grammy Award winner), Breathe (2021), Humanity (2023).
Collaborations
Migration (1995) – with R. Carlos Nakai, How the West Was Lost (1999) – with R. Carlos Nakai, Earth (2001) – with R. Carlos Nakai, Faces of the Sun (2002) – with R. Carlos Nakai, People of Peace (2006) – with Native American artists, Wind, Moon & Stars (2007), Sacred Ground (2010).
Film, Documentary & Thematic Works
Prayer Cycle (contributor), Rituals (1993), Healing (1996), Devotion (2005), The Grand Piano (2011), Spirit of the Wolf (soundtrack),
Meditation / Healing / Spiritual Albums
Inner Child (1993), Compassionate Spirit (1998), Peace Through Music (2001), Sacred Spirit (2008), Heart Journey (2015).