Pieterson suffered from asthma as a child, and began studies of clarinet at age 11 to try to counteract this condition.
[2] As a teenager and student at the Amsterdams Muzieklyceum, Pieterson was a member of the Aulos Quintet, which included Martine Bakker (flute), Edo de Waart (oboe), Joep Terweij (bassoon) and Jaap Verhaar (French horn), under the guidance of Thom de Klerk.
In 1977, Reinbert de Leeuw, Vera Beths, Anner Bijlsma and Pieterson formed the Rondom Quartet, and the group recorded Messiaen's Quatour pour la fin du temps (Philips).
His work with contemporary music included the composition of a clarinet concerto for him by Theo Loevendie.
[2] Ill health, including muscular dystrophy, cancer and depression led to his retirement from the orchestra.