Niel DePonte created the score of Peter Pan for Houston Ballet in 2002 and conducted the recording of the score in 2024. He has appeared as guest conductor with symphonic and ballet orchestras in the U.S. and abroad. DePonte was Founding Music Director and Conductor for Oregon Ballet Theatre's orchestra from 1985-2022, Principal Percussionist of the Oregon Symphony from 1977-2020, and was a 2003 Grammy Award nominee for his performance of the Concerto for Marimba by Tomas Svoboda with the Oregon Symphony. He is President of DePonte Creativity Partners, a nonprofit organization that produces concerts, recordings, and educational programs in Portland, Oregon. Born in New York City, he holds an M.M. in performance from the Eastman School of Music and a degree in education from SUNY Fredonia.