Peter Grote was born in 1952 and grew up in a family of musicians. His first teacher on the cello was his father, himself a leading cellist. While still attending junior high school, Peter began with professional musical studies.
He took successfully part in the youth competitions in Germany “Jeunesses musicales” – as well in solo as chamber music categories. 1966 he won with his brothers 2nd prize in the national edition as string trio and 1970, also with his brothers, 1st prize as string quartet.
From 1971 he began his studies at Folkwang Music Academy Essen. His teachers there were Paul Tortelier, Mirko Dorner and Konrad Grahe. 1977 he graduated with his Bachelor of Arts and 1981 he graduated additionally with his Master of Arts. At the end of his studies he was awarded with the Folkwang Prize.
As early as during his years as student at Folkwang Academy he began with intense concert activities. After finishing his studies he founded the Trio Sanderi, a piano trio formation. With this group Peter Grote toured for more than 5 years in Europe. The ensemble made recordings with almost all German broadcasting corporations, with BBC London and RTBF Bruxelles; moreover they appeared on TV and released CD recordings with works by Beethoven, Brahms, Fauré, Tchaikovsky. During its existence Trio Sanderi gave more than 200 concerts.
After performing with the trio, Peter Grote worked as concert organizer for two years. In the following 25 years he was Artistic Director of the Japanese enterprise Kawai, being active on all continents. His main tasks were initiating and organizing concerts, recordings, masterclasses and competitions; to the latter he is occasionally invited as judge. Especially his activities in and for piano competitions gave Peter Grote an experience to listen to thousands of young pianists from all over the world.
Until recently he has been an active concert performer, as recitalist, chamber musician and soloist with orchestra, one of his partners being his wife, internationally known pianist Anna Malikova; in total he has a concert performing experience of hundreds of concerts during many years in Europe and the Far East.
The Polish Government awarded him 2004 with the “Ordre de Mérite Culturel” for his merits with regard to the Int’l Chopin Competition Warsaw.
In January 2014 Peter Grote was appointed Artistic Director of the Int’l Tchaikovsky Competition in Russia, the biggest music competition worldwide. Actually he is General Secretary of the new International Music Competition Harbin in China, which was held for the first time in january 2018.