Chorale Choir Director (grades 4-6)

Brian Petersen is a native of the Bear River Valley. He graduated from Bear River High in 1975. His professional teaching career spanned 36 years and he retired in 2018.  Mr. Petersen holds a Bachelor of Music and a Masters of Education in Secondary Music from Utah State University.

Mr. Petersen has served as an adjunct instructor of voice at USU, 1986-1987. He has studied voice with William Ramsey, John Jennings, Marshall Hill, Carol Ann Hill Modesitt, and Will Kesling. He’s studied choral conducting with Carl Ashby, Will Kesling, Craig Jessop, and Mack Wilberg.

Mr. Petersen was the director of choral and vocal music at Preston High School, 1982-1985 and Director of choral and vocal activities at Mountain View High School in Orem, Utah, 1987-1995. Then he worked as the director of choirs and as a Spanish teacher at Bear River Middle School, 2012-2018, and director of choral and vocal activities and as a Spanish teacher at Bear River High School in Garland, Utah, 1995-2018. 

Mr. Petersen is a published composer and arranger of numerous vocal, choral, and instrumental works. He was a member of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, 2001-2007. He served as the guest conductor and clinician for the All-State Men’s Honor Choir in 1999 and has conducted numerous honors choirs in Utah and Idaho. Mr. Petersen was awarded the 1994-1995 Teacher of the Year at Mountain View High School.

Mr. Petersen is married to Carol Jean Funk Petersen. They are the parents of seven daughters and the grandparents of twelve. He is a member of the USU Old Main Society and has been the owner and manager of a research orchard in collaboration with the USU College of Agriculture since 2007.