Nationally recognized violinist, Erik Peterson was a member of the Colorado Symphony for 29 years, and continues to perform with the Ivy Street Ensemble, Canto Deo, and Colorado Bach Ensemble. An active teacher in the Denver Metro area, Erik has a large studio of talented violinists and continues to pursue excellence on the violin for both himself and his students!
Erik is dedicated to chamber music performance and community outreach. He frequently visits Colorado schools to engage students in the art of chamber music performance with a variety of ensembles. A longtime member of the Ivy Street Ensemble, Erik also performs across the state with cellist Barbara Thiem, and pianist Theodore Lichtmann as part of the Mendelssohn Trio. His performances are often broadcast on Performance Today, Colorado Public Radio, and Oregon Public Radio.
In addition to his commitments to violin and chamber music performance, Erik Peterson is the Artistic Director Front Range Chamber Players (www.frontrangechamberplayers.org) in Fort Collins, Colorado. In 2001 Erik founded the Chintimini Chamber Music Festival in Corvallis, OR and remained Artistic Director of his festival until 2023. After growing the festival’s financial stability from $5,000 to over $300,000, Erik left CCMF to pursue other work opportunities. His role in these two organizations has allowed him to promote the art of chamber music to a wide audience, as well as provide performance opportunities for colleagues across the country.
While attending the University of Iowa, Erik studied violin peformance with Leapold LaFosse. He continued violin studies with Andres Cardenes at the University of Michigan and with Camilla Wicks at Rice University. Erik has been a member of many orchestras throughout the United States, and has performed in the great concert halls of Europe as Principal Second Violinist of the American Sinfonietta on several international tours.
Erik maintains a private home teaching studio and has also taught for Colorado State University, Rocky Ridge Music Center, Denver Young Artists Orchestra and the Denver School of the Arts, and he is frequently engaged to give master classes. He is the Chamber Music Coach for Evergreen Chamber Orchestra and teaches at the University of Denver Lamont Summer Academy.
