Pete Wikle

Join us for an intimate evening of live jazz in the heart of beautiful Downtown Santa Ana, featuring a mix of original music and arrangements from the Great American Songbook. The ensemble is led by Santa Ana native Peter Wikle.

Peter Wikle is a versatile trombonist, tubist, composer, arranger, and educator originally from Santa Ana, California. After spending a decade immersed in the vibrant music scene of New York City, he studied with many of the industry’s most esteemed musicians, including Dave Taylor, Jim McNeely, Barry Harris, Lee Konitz, Justin DiCioccio, and Dave Liebman.

During his time in New York, Wikle collaborated with a wide range of instrumentalists and ensembles across diverse genres. His performance credits include the Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band, the Metropolis Ensemble, the Mingus Big Band, Jordan Rudess, the Kyle Athayde Dance Party, and Elijah Shiffer, among others.

Wikle has appeared at major festivals and venues around the world, including the Monterey Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Bimhuis, the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, and the Deer Head Inn’s Celebration of the Other Arts. His studio work includes sessions at iconic locations such as Capitol Studios, Van Gelder Studios, and Power Station at BerkleeNYC.

As a passionate composer and arranger, Wikle leads the NYC-based brass band Rat Trap Pack, which released its debut album Aqua Rat in 2023. His music draws inspiration from a wide range of influences—from Bach and Stravinsky to Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, and Koji Kondo.

Wikle holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music (2018) and a Master of Arts from New York University (2023). In 2024, he returned to his hometown of Santa Ana, where he continues to perform, compose, and teach.