Peter Matz

Peter Matz (November 6, 1928 – August 9, 2002) was an American composer, arranger, conductor, and musical director renowned for his contributions to Broadway theater, film scores, and television specials over a 50-year career. Best known for his close collaborations with performers such as Barbra Streisand and Carol Burnett, Matz arranged and conducted Streisand's first five albums, including the Grammy-winning People (1964), and served as musical director for Emmy-winning specials like My Name Is Barbra (1965) and The Carol Burnett Show (1971–1978). His work also extended to Broadway productions like No Strings (1962) and Grand Hotel (1989), as well as films such as Funny Lady (1975), for which he received an Academy Award nomination.

A Democrat and member of the Jewish faith, he actively raised funds for AIDS care through benefit concerts with his wife.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Louis N. Matz and Alice Krieger Matz, he initially pursued a degree in chemical engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), while playing woodwinds in dance bands during his college years. After graduating, Matz studied music in Paris for two years before launching his professional career in the 1950s as an arranger and conductor for theater and variety shows. Early Broadway credits included House of Flowers (1954) and Sail Away (1961–1962), where he honed his skills in orchestration and musical direction.