Biography

Dr. Craig Peterson is Director of Choral Activities and Department Chair at Mesa Community College where he directs a chamber choir, a concert choir, a jazz choir and teaches choral education classes. He received the Bachelor of Music Degree from Concordia College and the Masters and Doctoral Degrees in Choral Conducting from Arizona State University.  He has studied conducting with Paul Christiansen, Douglas McEwen, Don Bailey, Anders Ohrwall, Jon Washburn, Charles Bruffy & Craig Hella Johnson. Craig has served in numerous leadership roles including AMEA all-state jazz chair, and vocal jazz and two-year college R& S chairs for AZ ACDA and served as president for AZ ACDA.  Groups under Craig’s direction have consistently received superior ratings at area festivals and have appeared at the AZ State ACDA Convention, the AZ Music Educators Convention, at three ACDA Western Division Conventions, and the National Convention of the Orff and Kodaly Music Teachers Association.  Dr. Peterson has also prepared choirs for the Phoenix Symphony and the Boston Pops Orchestra.   Craig has served as the Assistant Director of the Phoenix Chorale, assistant director of the Phoenix Boys Choir and he continues to be in demand as a clinician and singer throughout Arizona, Texas, and Ohio. He has also sung bass on several recordings with both the Phoenix Chorale and Conspirare and has also sung professionally with True Concord, The Santa Fe Desert Chorale and the Cincinnati Vocal Artists.  

Academic degrees

• D.M.A. in Choral Conducting, Arizona State University
• M.A. in Choral Conducting, Arizona State University
• B.M. in Music, Concordia College