Peter Wilson serves as Music Director of the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra and The American Prize-winning Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra in Virginia as well as Artistic Director and Conductor of the American Festival Pops Orchestra in the National Capital Region. Peter has conducted the National Symphony and National Gallery of Art Orchestras and holds music degrees from Northwestern University and The Catholic University of America, where he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts.
WAYNESBORO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Peter Wilson was appointed music director and conductor of the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra in 2007. Since then he has helped guide WSO to reach new heights and achievements, including earning The American Prize in 2021 for “Best Community Orchestra Performance” based on its live recording of Mahler’s First Symphony. Maestro Wilson’s continued vision for the Waynesboro Symphony is summed up in the phrase “balanced growth” — exploring new repertoire, commissioning new works from contemporary American composers, continuing to support young artists with the bi-annual Concerto Competition and maintaining the excellence the organization has built as an award-winning community orchestra.
RICHMOND PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Peter Wilson was appointed music director and conductor of the Richmond Philharmonic Orchestra in 2013. The Richmond Philharmonic is central Virginia’s premier community orchestra. A member-run organization, its musicians are music educators, doctors, accountants, professional musicians, teachers, lawyers, and more. Musicians volunteer their talents to rehearse and perform for diverse audiences.
During the pandemic, RPO conductor Peter Wilson along with assistant conductor Will Pattie, hosted an engaging video blog/podcast entitled Cocktails with Conductors where they not only shared interesting cocktail recipes (sometimes with celebrity bartenders from around Richmond, VA), but also discussed the works of notable composers and guest musical artists. Find all 14 episodes on YouTube. Cheers!
AMERICAN FESTIVAL POPS ORCHESTRA
Peter Wilson was appointed artistic director and conductor of the American Festival Pops Orchestra in 2022, following his 12 years as AFPO Concertmaster. Based at George Mason University’s state-of-the-art Hylton Performing Arts Center concert hall, the AFPO was formed around a full-size big band comprised of the finest military jazz musicians from around Washington D.C. and the National Capital area. Surrounding that core is an ensemble of outstanding orchestral strings, winds and percussionists, who have been dazzling audiences with an annual Holiday Pops Concert series since its inception.
