His compositional oeuvre includes works for jazz formation (saxophone quartet, ensembles, big bands), for chamber music groups and for orchestras.
He released more than 70 CDs with his original music and own groups like Peter Lehel Quartet, FineFones Saxophone Quartet, Pipes & Phones, Jazz Ensemble Baden-Wuerttemberg. He travelled around the globe as sideman with the group Saltacello and with hammond organ legend Barbara Dennerlein.Concert tours with his Peter Lehel Quartet have so far taken him to almost every continent.
In his home country, he was given the Jazz Award Baden Wuerttemberg („Jazzpreis Baden-Württemberg“) in 1997 and already won the German Record Critics` Award („Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik“) twice in 2000 and 2006. In the year 2004, he was presented with a scholarship by the Arts Foundation Baden-Wuerttemberg („Kunststiftung Baden-Württemberg“), whose jury he finally joined as an appointed member in 2008.
He has held a position as a visiting professor at Shenyang Conservatory of Music in China since 2007.
Peter Lehel`s extensive discography offers a wide range of versatile ensembles whose music goes way beyond the boundaries of the genres.
Since 2014, he has acted as the artistic director of the newly founded JAZZ JUNIORS, a youth talent support program initiated by the Baden-Wuerttemberg State Music Council („Landesmusikrat Baden-Württemberg“).
Peter Lehel’s commitment to teaching is reflected in his diverse activities as music pedagogue, including – since 2005 – the project „Jazz for Kids“, aimed at a very young generation.
He teaches saxophone, jazz theory and big band at University of Music Karlsruhe (Germany).
Peter is playing Antigua Pro-One soprano saxophone- SS6200VLQ.