The College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State encompasses nine departments and the Armenian Studies Program. Each year, new faculty are brought on to elevate the academic offerings here at Fresno State. These new faculty members bring innovative research, diverse fields of study, and technical expertise to our college, inspiring fresh ways of thinking throughout our many disciplines.
We are excited to welcome Peter Klimo as he joins the Department of Music as Assistant Professor of Piano. He teaches applied piano lessons, accompanying, piano pedagogy, piano literature and class piano III.
Klimo, a Hungarian-American pianist, has been studying piano since the age of nine. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the Eastman School of Music, his Master’s Degree from the Yale School of Music and his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music. Klimo has performed and competed internationally, including third place in the 2019 Bartók World Piano Competition, third in the 2019 Bösendorfer International Piano Competition, and second in the 2014 International Franz Liszt Piano Competition in Utrecht. Passionate about education and sustaining the art form, he has given several masterclasses around the country and served as a faculty member for the 2013 DBS Summer Music Festival in Hong Kong and called to adjudicate several competitions around the world.
What are your office hours?
Office: Mus159
Monday 3-5 pm
Wednesday 2-3 pm and 4-5 pm
Tell me a little about yourself. Where were you born? Where did you grow up? What schools/universities did you attend?
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA and went to LACHSA (Los Angeles County High School for the Arts). Higher ed schools in bio.
What do you love about music?
Music has the incredible power to alter the human psyche as it tugs at our heartstrings in mysterious ways. I’m continually fascinated by the endless possibilities composers derive from a seemingly limited system.
What is your primary instrument? Why?
Piano. Since I was a child I’ve been fascinated by the layout of the keys and physical aspects of playing the instrument. I derive great satisfaction from the athletic repertoire, typically feeling that the more complicated the piece, the better. I notice this change as I get older, but I don’t expect the feeling to ever leave me.
Why do you think music is important?
I believe music is an innate aspect of our humanity. Everything in us and around us has a rhythm and a sound, and I feel that the formalized presentation of music has the power to guide our bodies and minds towards myriad emotional states and often even catharsis.
Where do you find inspiration?
I can find inspiration in all manner of seemingly mundane things. But music, in general, is so rich and complex that I hardly want inspiring content, whether in the form of a fantastic performance or the music itself.
What are you looking forward to at Fresno State?
Developing and growing the piano program to become a key component of the Music Department that interacts with all areas within it regularly.
What is a fun fact people might not know about you?
I play tennis regularly and am fond of all manner of games, board and video, with chess being a particular interest.
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