Pete Korpela is a Grammy Award nominated musician, specialized in orchestral, latin, jazz, world, rock, and pop music. He has worked with Danny Elfman, John Powell, Josh Groban, Robbie Williams, Marco Beltrami, Michael McDonald, Carter Burwell, Disturbed, Alan Parsons, Calle 13, Rickie Lee Jones, Madeleine Peyroux, Lizz Wright, Ed Shearmur, Kandace Springs, Ana Moura, Joe Trapanese, Rob Simonsen, Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie), Jesse Carmichael (Maroon 5), Melody Gardot, LA Philharmonic, Seth MacFarlane, Ron Jones, Nathan Pacheco, Don Randi and Randy Brecker. 

Some of the drummers and percussionists Pete has had a pleasure playing/recording with are Vinnie Colaiuta, J.R. Robinson, Alex Acuna, Aaron Sterling, Emil Richards, Hal Blaine, Luis Conte, Lenny Castro, Bob Zimmitti, Dan Greco, Don Williams, Brian Kilgore, Wade Culbreath, Ndugu Chancler, Chad Smith, Curt Bisquera, Mark Schulman, Kenny Aronoff, Jim Keltner, Russ Miller, Tom Brechtlein and Virgil Donati. He has appeared internationally in Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Scandinavia, South Africa and the Philippines. 

In 2011 Pete joined Josh Groban’s “Straight to You” world tour and is currently Mr. Groban’s percussionist. In 2012 he toured extensively with two different artists: jazz vocalist Melody Gardot and tenor Nathan Pacheco. Between 2003-07 Pete toured for over three years throughout the United States with 1st National Tour of the Tony award winning Walt Disney’s The Lion King both as a marimbist and featured on-stage percussionist. While traveling he organized and performed clinics at many prestigious universities, art and cultural events and at the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) convention in Louisville, K.Y. In addition he was showcased at many Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS benefits, an industry fundraising initiative to assist those living with HIV/AIDS. 

Pete’s work can be heard on an award winning “Assassin’s Creed 2”, “Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood” and “Assassin’s Creed: Revelations” soundtracks, which have sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Recently he performed on Conan O'Brien with Disturbed, a performance that was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2017. You can also hear Pete on "Straight Outta Compton" movie, with composer Joe Trapanese and "Going in Style" with composer Rob Simonsen.  

In June 2010 Pete performed with Cirque du Soleil as a musical director and lead drummer in a nationally televised project presenting the new “Xbox 360 Kinect” gaming console. 

Born and raised in Finland, Pete studied orchestral and hand percussion extensively at the Sibelius-Academy in Helsinki, from where he holds a Bachelor's degree in World Music/percussion. In 1997-98 he spent 12 months at the Los Angeles Music Academy. Privately he has studied studio and orchestral percussion with Don Williams, Emil Richards, Joe Porcaro and Michael Fisher. His world percussion teachers include Lenny Castro, Luis Conte, Kevin Ricard, Michito Sanchez, Glen Velez, Jerry Steinholtz and John Bergamo.