Don L. Peterson
was named as Director of Bands and conductor of the BYU Wind Symphony in 2008. Under his direction, the BYU Wind Symphony completed highly successful tours to Asia in both 2009 and 2015 as well as Europe in 2012. They also gave invited performances for the CBDNA Regional Conference and the National Convention of the American Bandmasters Association. Previous to his appointment as Director of Bands, he served for twenty-two years at BYU as associate director of bands, associate professor of music education and director of the marching and symphonic bands.

Dr. Peterson received both his B.M. and M.M. degrees in music education from Brigham Young University followed by the D.M.A. degree in instrumental music/conducting from Arizona State University. During his nine years as director at American Fork High School (Utah); the concert, marching, and jazz bands were recipients of numerous awards and recognitions. He rejoined many of his former high school colleagues in 1997 as the founding director of the Utah Ambassadors of Music—a high school honor band and choir—and led the organization through eight biennial performance tours of Europe.

His publications include articles in both Bandworld magazine, Band Director's Guide, and Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. In 2005, he published an interactive DVD for the study of “Instrumental Rehearsal Techniques”—designed to aid in the development of both prospective music educators and younger professionals. An interesting mesh of profession and hobby—which began when he built batons for his graduating students—has grown into a custom baton service (“Don’s Batons”) with designs that are used by a number of conductors from across the country and in Europe.

He has served as a national committee member for the CBDNA (College Band Directors National Association), state chair for the NBA (National Band Association), Board Member for Legacy Music Alliance, and President of the UMEA (Utah Music Educators Association). His work as adjudicator, clinician and guest conductor, has taken him to 20 states and 19 countries. In 2011 he was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association.