The Peterson School of Music in Salt Lake City is on a mission to nurture artistry through comprehensive music education. Formerly known as the Gifted Music School, it was renamed after Joel and Diana Peterson, longstanding supporters of the school.
The school is a nonprofit founded by musicians Eugene and Vera Watanabe. They are dedicated to training excellent musicians starting in childhood. “We have always aspired to provide the best musical training and to be a school of international level standard,” said Eugene Watanabe in an interview with the Chronicle. “It’s a multigenerational endeavor to have the highest possible quality.”
Excellence in music
Vera grew up in Russia’s state-supported conservatory system. She quickly noticed that the U.S. education system didn’t have music training programs for children of all different backgrounds.
Opening the school in 2008, the Watanabes provide pre-conservatory musical training. The program is open to all children in the US, regardless of their financial circumstances…