DYAO cellist and member of the Young Artists Orchestra, Alexander Peterson, is the 2025 YAO Concerto Competition Winner! Read on to learn more about Alexander. Alexander Peterson is a senior in high school at Kent Denver and hopes to attend college as a music and economics double major. He is an honors student, participated in Kent’s music program in the band SoularWave, (taking a few voice lessons, teaching himself electric and string bass along the way), and was on the Varsity tennis team. He began his musical studies at age 3 on the violin with Margaret Gutierrez, and switched to cello at age 6 with Matthew Switzer. At age 9 Alexander began his ensemble experience with a year in Denver Young Artists Orchestra String Ensemble, took some time off to play soccer, and in 2021 joined the larger Denver Young Artists Orchestra, playing both in the section and as Principal Cellist. He has performed as part of Young Musician Prelude concerts for Front Range Chamber Players in Denver, CO and Chintimini Chamber Music Festival in Corvallis, Oregon. He shares his love of the cello each year at the Tunes for TaTas benefit concert and volunteers for El Sistema during summer camp and school year activities. Alexander has enjoyed a variety of summer music experiences ranging from private intensive instruction in Austria to the traditional summer camp. In the summer of 2024 he attended the University of Denver Lamont Summer Academy as principal cellist, at age 15 he attended Interlochen Arts Academy and won a position in the prestigious World Youth Symphony, and has participated in summer programs at Rocky Ridge Music Center in Estes Park. When he is not practicing his cello or studying for school, Alexander also enjoys skiing, walking his dog, and helping his grandparents that live down the street.
Getting to Know You: Alexander Peterson, 2025 YAO Concerto Competition Winner
