Peter Vanderwaal is an organist and conductor in the midwest. Growing up in Minnesota, he had lessons with Ross Root and Joseph Ripka. He lived in Chicago for 5 years while at the Moody Bible Institute where he graduated with a Bachelor’s of Sacred Music in Organ. During his time in Chicago, he studied organ with Dr. Elizabeth Naegele and Dr. H.E. Singley III and conducting with Gerald Edmunds and Dr. Xiangtang Hong. He has also participated in master classes given by Langlais student and specialist Dr. Ann Labounsky, Tom Trenney, and Nathan Laube.
Mr. Vanderwaal received his Master of Arts in Liturgical Music from St John’s School of Theology and Seminary. There he studied organ with Dr. Kim Kasling, piano with Dr. Amy Grinsteiner, conducting with Dr. Axel Theimer, and Gregorian Chant with Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB.
He has been involved in church music for the past 18 years with experience with Evangelical, Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, and Catholic churches. Between degrees, he was Interim Organist at Word of Peace Lutheran Church and served at the Anglican Church of St Dunstan as the principal organist and choir director. In 2013, he started and directed a lay person’s choir at Church of the Cross in Hopkins and was the Music Teacher/Conductor for all grades at RiverTree School.
In 2019, he accompanied two masses at the Focus SEEK 2019 conference. He also accompanied the Choir of St. John’s and St. Benedict’s on their tour to Germany, Czech Republic, and Austria.
As an organist, Mr. Vanderwaal enjoys solo work and is particularly fond of congregational accompanying. He makes careful note of playing the text as well as the notes. Congregants have mentioned that Mr Vanderwaal’s leading “just makes them want to sing.”
As of 2019, Mr. Vanderwaal has served the Church of St. Charles Borromeo as Director of Music and Parish Organist. He plays for all the liturgies and directs 2 choirs. His approach to Catholic liturgical music has been to the reflect the reality of the mass with music. This is done through drawing from the rich traditions of Church like chant and polyphony, but also from other appropriate sources of liturgical music like the English Choral Tradition and Russian Orthodox music.
Mr. Vanderwaal has a technical side which enables him to 
work with the mechanics and the tonal design of the organ. As a consultant, he uses his ear for tonal color combined with imagination and administration to help churches build or rebuild their instrument to best suit the congregation’s needs.
When he is not music making, Mr. Vanderwaal enjoys reading, writing, and being outdoors.
Mr Vanderwaal is a participant in the AGO (American Guild of Organists) and the RSCM (Royal School of Church Music).