Eric Peterson

Dr. Peterson is Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music.  In anticipation of Mr. James McKinney’s pending retirement, Dr. Peterson and Mr. McKinney are sharing responsibilities during 2008-09 academic year. 

Eric comes to SDSU this year from the University of Utah where he directed the famed Utah Marching ‘Utes,’ the University Symphonic Band, and two Basketball Pep Bands.  Under his direction, the Marching ‘Utes’ performed and traveled extensively as members of the Mountain West Conference, including the 2003 Liberty Bowl, the 2005 Fiesta Bowl (’04 season), the 2005 Emerald Bowl, the 2006 Armed Forces Bowl, and the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl. 

A quad-cities native, Eric received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, a master’s from the University of Kansas, and a doctorate in conducting from Texas Tech University.  He has studied conducting with John Cody Birdwell, Gary Lewis, James Hile, Robert Foster, and James Barnes.  He has studied tuba performance with Fritz Kaenzig, Mark Moore, Scott Watson, and Kevin Wass.

Beyond his university teaching experience, Eric has taught in public schools in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Illinois, where his students consistently received superior ratings in marching and concert festivals.

Dr. Peterson is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, College Band Directors National Association, the National Marching and Athletic Band Symposium, and is an honorary inducted member of Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi. 

Eric is married to Michelle, who teaches in the Flandreau school system.

E-mail: Eric.Peterson@sdstate.edu

Phone: (605) 688-4029

 Return to Faculty Page