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Stephen Peterson (Fort Collins, CO) Stephen Peterson has enjoyed a 43-year career teaching and conducting throughout the United States and around the world. Most recently, he served as Director of Bands at the University of Illinois, where he served from 2015 until his retirement in 2022. At Illinois, he conducted the Illinois Wind Symphony, led the graduate wind conducting program, taught courses in wind literature, and guided all aspects of one of the nation’s oldest, largest, and most storied band programs.
Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Illinois, he served as director of bands at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York for 17 years. From 1988 to 1998, he served as Associate Director of Bands at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Dr. Peterson was also conductor of the renowned Northshore Concert Band. He held positions as Associate and Interim Director of Bands at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas and has several years of successful teaching experience in the public schools in Arizona.
Peterson maintains a busy schedule as a conductor and clinician and has appeared on four continents and in 45 states. In addition to many honor bands and clinics, since retiring, he has had residencies at the University of Michigan, The University of Colorado, The University of Massachusetts, Appalachian State University, and the Interlochen Center for the Arts Academy. He is a past president of the College Band Directors National Association and has been honored with membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association, where he has served on the Board of Directors. He is also a member of Phi Mu Alpha, Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Kappa Lambda, and an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi.