The Phoenix Chorale appoints Tom Peterson as assistant conductor and outreach coordinator starting January 2020.

Mr. Peterson succeeds Kevin Kriegel, who served as the Chorale’s assistant conductor from 2014 to 2019.  A native Phoenician, Mr. Peterson also serves as the music director at Christ Church of the Ascension in Paradise Valley.

He was a Fellow at Chorus America’s 2018 Conducting Academy, and served two years as artistic director of the Master Chorale of Flagstaff, where he initiated the Big Sing Flagstaff and Festival of Women Composers, according to a press release.

As assistant conductor and outreach coordinator, Mr. Peterson will serve as the primary artistic support to the artistic director, Christopher Gabbitas in all rehearsals and concerts during the Phoenix Chorale’s 2019-20 Season.

He will lead in coordinating the Chorale’s outreach and educational activities throughout the year.

“I am thrilled to join the Phoenix Chorale! I am a longtime follower and fan of the group, and am excited to join the Chorale for its next chapter,” said Mr. Peterson in a prepared statement.

As a composer, much of Mr. Peterson’s recent work has been focused on choral music.

He won the 2019 Stephen Paulus Emerging Composers Competition for his work for Tucson’s Grammy-nominated choir True Concord, and his music has been performed by local choir Solis Camerata as well as New York City’s Grammy-nominated Choir of Trinity Wall Street.

Likewise, his instrumental music has been performed his instrumental music has been performed locally by Paradise Winds and Tetra String Quartet and across the country at the Oregon Bach Festival, Fisher Piano Competition, and Gamper Festival of Contemporary Music.

International performances of his works include Festival Chorus, Ossian Ensemble, and Sounds New Festival. Plus, his commercial recording debut—as a composer and conductor working with platinum recording artist R. Carlos Nakai—is coming in 2020 on Canyon Records.

He has a bachelor of music degree in theory and composition from Arizona State University, a master of music degree in composition and conducting from the Royal College of Music in London, and is completing a doctor of musical arts in choral conducting at the University of Arizona, according to the release.

Phoenix Chorale Artistic Director Christopher Gabbitas described Mr. Peterson as a talented composer and conductor who “brings a breadth of experience working with community choirs and young musicians - which will be invaluable as we seek to expand our outreach programs in the coming years.

The search committee and I all felt that he will bring the best combination of talents to our organization.”

The Phoenix Chorale’s 2019-20 Season remaining concert dates include Dec. 13-17; Feb. 28-29, 2020; and March 1 and April 24-26, 2020.

For more information about the Chorale: PhoenixChorale.org.