Dean Peterson, interim Director of Choirs for the University of Montana, recently retired from public school teaching after 33 years.  He also conducts the Missoula Symphony Chorale and the Missoula Mendelssohn Club.  He holds two Bachelor degrees from the University of Montana in Music Education and Piano Performance.  He received his Masters degree in Music Education with Kodaly emphasis from Holy Names College, Oakland, CA.

Dean was recently recognized by the National Federation of High Schools as the 2010-2011 Outstanding Music Educator for Montana and the Northwest region. In March 2011, he was named Missoula Arts Educator of the Year by the Missoula Cultural Council and most recently received the 2011 Distinguished Service Award from the Montana Music Educators Association. 

 He is active professionally as a member and past president of the Montana Choral Directors Association, a member of the Montana Music Educators Association, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Missoula International Choral Festival