Peter Mahtani Hits the Right Notes

Adrianna Knopp will never forget how she felt singing the national anthem before a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game. As she and other members of the First Presbyterian Church youth choir stood on the field and sang the familiar final words “… and the home of the brave,” the crowd erupted in cheers. 

It was one of those memorable goosebump moments, thanks to choir director Peter Mahtani, who oversees the 60-plus-member ensemble’s musical selections, rehearsals, regularly scheduled and special performances, annual trips, and fundraising events that help underwrite students’ travel expenses.

At the time of this writing, the choir, consisting of students in sixth grade and up from around Indian River County, is gearing up for a June trip to Puerto Rico, where they will spend a week performing, sightseeing, and immersing themselves in the island’s history and culture. 

“Every year we have an itinerary, and the kids don’t know what it is until we arrive and they get a packet with everything in it, so when they open it, it’s a surprise,” Mahtani grins as he recalls the excited looks on all their faces.

“When I was in school,” he explains, “part of my own choir journey started with going on trips to places where we would perform and learn about the area. I knew how much they meant to me, so when I got here our first trip was small: we went to the Florida Keys. The second year we went big, to New York City; the third year was to Los Angeles and Malibu, California; and last year we did a swing through Pennsylvania.

“We’ve also gone to hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the London Royal Philharmonic Orchestra when they’re in the area performing, and we’ve made a number of trips to Orlando to see musicals.”

The choir, whose members don’t have to belong to the church, sings a variety of musical selections a cappella, including “Nothin’ Gonna Stumble My Feet,” “Esto Les Digo,” and “Soon and Very Soon.” The group has come a long way since Mahtani arrived in Vero Beach five years ago. He has come a long way as well.

At that time, he knew no one except Jacob Craig, First Presbyterian’s director of music and arts, who had hired him to be associate director of music, responsible for the adult and youth handbell choirs, youth choir, and worship team.

A church staff member helped him find an apartment, but, being brand new to the area, he had to learn the directions to his own home.

Mahtani was far outside his comfort zone. For the past several years he had been the much-loved and highly respected music teacher and choir director at Trinity Christian School in Pittsburgh. Then came the pandemic and the strict protocols that followed. “COVID was much more severe up North, so we weren’t allowed to get together at all,” Mahtani recalls. “Finally, toward the very end of the lockdown, we were allowed to, but we had to wear masks. By then the kids had been dropping out, my numbers were down, and I decided I’d done all I could do. I wanted a fresh start; I wanted to prove I could do it all again.”

Armed with a master of music degree and an impressive résumé, Mahtani clicked on to the American Choral Directors Association website to check out job postings.

“I saw a few openings, so I put my résumé out to all of them. Then I emailed them. Jacob [Craig] emailed back right away, and we got together on the phone. I was up-front with him; I said I’m not that great a pianist or choral director, but I can teach. I think because I was so honest, within 20 to 30 minutes of us just talking, we both knew.” He was offered the position and didn’t have to think twice.

“When I got here in July, it was one of the hardest times in my life,” Mahtani admits. “No one knew who I was or cared about what I’d done in the past. I was a nobody.” 

After he was introduced to the church’s congregation, 20 young people expressed an interest in being part of the choir, but after the first month, only two or three could be counted on to show up. Adrianna, an 11-year-old sixth grader at the time, was one of them.

When asked why she stayed, the now-16-year-old, who sings solos and is a member of the church’s praise team, smiles. “I’ve always been passionate about music, and I love how Peter teaches. He cares about us and works to make us better. When I first started singing solos, I was so scared, so nervous … but because of Peter’s encouragement I have much more confidence.”

In the meantime, Mahtani had received his Florida teacher certification and started substituting at local schools, where he told students about the choir.

The numbers grew, thanks to the youngsters who started telling their friends how much they enjoyed singing and being part of the group, proving again that word of mouth is the best form of advertising.   

Eryn Lawson is a perfect example. She joined the choir earlier this year because a friend kept encouraging her to give it a try. “She knew I loved music,” says Eryn. “She also told me I’d meet new people, make friends, and have fun singing different kinds of music, so I decided to give it a try. I’m glad I did.”

Unlike Eryn, some young people who joined didn’t really know how to sing; it is in such situations that Mahtani the teacher works his musical wonders.

“The best way to get kids excited to learn is to take something like vocal technique and music reading and turn it into something they appreciate and look forward to,” says Mahtani, who is currently part-time choir director and musical theater vocal coach at Indian River Charter High School.

“IRCHS is a performing arts school, so a lot of kids from there love to perform and have become part of the choir,” he points out. That became evident at this year’s fundraising event in March, where singers helped serve a catered dinner, then took to the stage to sing and dance to favorite Disney songs, while those in the audience tapped their feet and hummed along.   

“The evening was truly magical!” Mahtani exclaims. “Our youth poured their hearts into their performance, treating us to a wonderful mix of beloved Disney classics and exciting new hits. A major highlight was the grand finale, when they sang music from the movie Coco, partially in Spanish, which was meant to give everyone a taste of the culture we were so excited to be part of.”

“The kids love to be here,” Mahtani says of his young vocalists. “Here they find a place where they’re welcome, where they belong.”

“Something I always say: if the kids love and respect each other and the director, they work harder to pursue excellence and make the music great.”