Rate My Professor William Petersen

Dr. William Petersen serves as Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music in the Department of Music at the University of South Alabama, where he was appointed to the faculty in 2012. He oversees all facets of the university's band program, conducting the USA Wind Ensemble, the premier instrumental ensemble on campus, and the USA Jazz Ensemble. Petersen directed the nationally recognized Jaguar Marching Band for over a decade, achieving notable performances such as at Alabama Governor Robert Bentley's 2015 inauguration, the 2014 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, the Bands of America Super Regional exhibition in 2015, Governor Kay Ivey's 2022 inaugural parade, and the 2022 R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl following a 10-2 football season. From 2012 to 2022, he taught applied tuba and euphonium, conducted the University of South Alabama Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble, and performed as tubist in the University Faculty Brass Quintet. His teaching includes graduate and undergraduate music education courses, conducting, and supervision of instrumental music education student teachers. His areas of focus include bands, music education, jazz, and conducting.

Petersen earned a Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.) in 2002, Master of Music (M.M.) in Wind Conducting in 2005, and Doctor of Music (D.M.) in Wind Conducting in 2013, all from Indiana University Bloomington. Prior to USA, from 2005 to 2009 he was Assistant Director of Athletic Bands and Instructor of Music at Virginia Tech, assisting with the Marching Virginians, directing the Hokies Pep Band, conducting the University Campus Band, teaching tuba and euphonium studios, aural theory courses, and serving as tubist in the Virginia Tech Faculty Brass Quintet. He taught in Texas public schools and from 2003 to 2019 instructed tuba, euphonium, and brass pedagogy at the Indiana University Summer Music Clinic. His doctoral project, a transcription of Witold Lutosławski’s Paganini Variations for Solo Piano and Orchestra, premiered with the Indiana University Symphonic Band in March 2012, featuring Charles H. Webb as piano soloist. Awards include Virginia Tech “Music Professor of the Year” in 2007 by the Gamma Mu chapter of Delta Omicron, “Favorite Faculty Member” by the Virginia Tech Department of Residence Life that year, and election to Phi Beta Mu, International Bandmasters Fraternity, in 2023. He is an active guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for concert and marching bands in several states and holds memberships in the College Band Directors National Association, National Association for Music Education, and International Tuba and Euphonium Association.