Jon I. (Pete) Peterson is a Visiting Instructor of Music at Nebraska Wesleyan University. He is presently working as Recruiting Coordinator for the Music Department, as well as doing some teaching in Secondary Vocal Music Education.
Mr. Peterson retired after 40 years of teaching, the last 32 years at Lincoln East High School. While at Lincoln East, the Choral Music Department grew to 10 Choral Ensembles with over 500 students participating every day. The choirs of East performed at National, Divisional and State ACDA Conventions, MENC Conventions and trips to New York City and Washington DC.
Mr. Peterson established the first Swing/Show Choir in Nebraska in the mid 1960s. He is now directing many Choral Festivals, Show Choir Clinics, as well as judging Choral and Show Choir events in Nebraska and the Midwest.
Jon Peterson has served as President of Nebraska Choral Directors Association and the Nebraska Music Educators Association. He has received the following awards, Gallup Outstanding Teacher Award in 1986, Nebraska Choral Director of the Year in 1991, and Aliant Fine Arts Teacher of the Year in 1993. Mr. Peterson was inducted into the Nebraska Music Educators Hall of Fame in 1996.
At the 2007 summer Nebraska Choral Directors Convention/Clinic, Peterson received the “CORNELL RUNESTAD AWARD” for “Lifetime Dedication to Choral Excellence in Nebraska”.
Jon Peterson is Assistant Director of the “Lincoln Continentals” Barbershop chorus and hosts a large “Young Men in Harmony” Barbershop workshop for over 400 high school men every March.
