Peter J. Durow
Job title
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Private Lesson Instructor in Composition
Music and Performing Arts, College of Arts and Sciences
Highlight
Peter J. Durow is a conductor and composer specializing in music education.
Started at Bethel
2026
Education
- Augsburg University - B.M. in Music Education, K-12 Vocal, 1999
- Butler University - M.M. in Choral Conducting, 2004
- Florida State University - Ph.D. in Music Education, emphasis in Choral Conducting, 2007
Biography
Peter J. Durow is a conductor and composer specializing in music education. He served as the Artistic Director and Conductor of From Age to Age, a Minneapolis-based chamber choir, from 2016-24. Currently, he directs the choir at the Congregational Church of Excelsior, works as an Administrative Associate for composer, Libby Larsen, teaches at Transfiguration Catholic School and Bethel University, and also works as a tour guide at Paisley Park. Peter lives with his wife Jodi, and their two children in Maple Grove, Minnesota.
Dr. Durow has taught at the Secondary and University levels and has worked as a church musician in Minnesota, Texas, Indiana, Florida, New York, and Missouri. He has served on the music faculties of the College of St. Benedict & St. John's University, Augsburg University, Bethany Lutheran College, St. Cloud State University, Southeast Missouri State University, Stetson University, and SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music.
An active composer and arranger of choral music, Peter’s music has been described as containing richly diverse musical textures (Heritage Music Press); intelligibility with substance, and accessibility without any feeling of compromise (MusicSpoke). Peter has won awards with the San Francisco Choral Artists and the Longfellow Chorus of Portland, Maine. His music has been commissioned for premiere performances in Carnegie Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the 2017 National ACDA Conference, and the 2018 ACDA-MN State 4-5-6 Girls’ Honor Choir. Peter’s compositions and arrangements are published in the Henry Leck Choral Series and Rodney Eichenberger Choral Series with Colla Voce Music, LLC, the Peter J. Durow Choral Series with Heritage Music Press, MusicSpoke, J. W. Pepper My Score, The Sacred Music Press, Personage Press, Northwestern Publishing House, and VocalEssence Music Press in the Graphite Marketplace.
Courses taught
Private Composition Lessons
Publications
A list of published Compositions and Arrangements can be found on Peter's personal website.
Professional organizations, committees, and boards
American Choral Directors Association (ACDA)
American Composers Forum (ACF)
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP)
Chorus America
Areas of expertise
Composition, Music Education, Choral Conducting