Mr. Petersen receives 2018 NBC-15 CRYSTAL APPLE AWARD - Honorable Mention
Mr. Petersen receives LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY'S 2015 OUTSTANDING TEACHING IN WISCONSIN AWARD
Ryan Petersen grew up in Washington, D.C. and quickly fell in love with music and science during his childhood. To explore these areas, he attended Lawrence University in Appleton, WI for his undergraduate degrees in Music Education (B. Mus) and Anthropology (B.A.). Mr. Petersen completed his Masters Degree in Music Education from Boston University. He has been teaching in the Deerfield School District in Deerfield, WI since 1998.
Sine 1998, Mr. Petersen has tripled the size of the instrumental music program at Deerfield Schools. He has started a 5th grade beginning band, both a high school and a middle school jazz band, and a successful marching program. Many former Deerfield Band Members have continued to be musically active after graduating - playing in college and community groups. Besides his role as a band director, Mr. Petersen also teaches a music recording/technology classes, an Archaeology class and an Anthropology class – the later online and over the JEDI Distance Learning Network. He is a member of the Technology Committee, Graduation Coordinator, and DEA Union President. He has been honored with the DHS Significant Educator Award nine times, the WMEA Outstanding Young Music Educator Award, the 2015 Lawrence University Award for Outstanding Teaching in Wisconsin, and was one of 10 Honorable Mentions in NBC-15's 2018 Crystal Apple Awards.
In addition to teaching, Mr. Petersen is a freelance musician playing in and conducting various groups in the Madison area and teaching a private studio. He is also active in the Wisconsin State Music Association, having been a member of the Festival Rules Committee and currently a member of the Festival Computers Committee. He also helps lead Festival Manager Workshops and Solo & Ensemble Trainings for WSMA.
Mr. Petersen lives in Cottage Grove, WI with his wife, son and daughter, and their zoo of Yorkshire Terriers, cockatiels and parakeets.