Crested Butte Music Festival Announces Co-Artistic Directors Dr. Emily Ondracek-Peterson and Dr. Erik Christian Peterson

Crested Butte Music Festival has announced new co-artistic directors in the husband-wife team of Dr. Emily Ondracek-Peterson and Dr. Erik Christian Peterson. Effective Oct. 3, the new artistic directors will work closely with the festival's executive director in bolstering the arts festival's national and global impact for the coming festival seasons.

Dr. Emily Ondracek-Peterson, a Chicago native, is a seasoned violinist and solo performer. Currently, she is director of string studies and a professor of violin at the Metropolitan State University of Denver and a faculty member at Teachers College, Columbia University. Ondracek-Peterson has performed with artists including acclaimed Japanese post-rock band Mono, contemporary avant-garde heroes Talea Ensemble, and the Wordless Orchestra featuring Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead.

Dr. Erik Christian Peterson is a violist, music producer and forward-thinking recording engineer. Also hailing from the Chicagoland area, Peterson has previously performed as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic as a member of lauded chamber group Voxare String Quartet. Peterson is a noted academician, technologist and photographer.

Dr. Emily Ondracek-Peterson has been concert master of the Crested Butte Music Festival Orchestra for the last three years; Erik Christian Peterson has been first violist of the orchestra for two years.

Per a press release, as reported by Broadway World, CBMF executive director Crista Ryan expressed her excitement for the future of the burgeoning arts festival located in the historic Colorado ski town. Ryan extolled the administrative vision and creative prescience of the new co-artistic directors:

"Emily and Erik will be a strong creative force for the Crested Butte Music Festival and will propel it forward as it continues to become a regional and national summer music destination. Their combined experience will allow the festival to continue fostering and expanding our mission of presenting an artistically diverse music festival. I am most excited to watch their immediate impact on the Gunnison Valley with the desire and passion they have for music education."

Below, watch a recent Crested Butte Music Festival video featuring guitarists Frank Vignola and Vinny Raniolo. For more information on the CBMF, visit www.crestedbuttemusicfestival.org.

TagsCrested Butte Musical Festival, Emily Ondracek-Peterson, Erik Christian Peterson, Crista Ryan, Frank Vignola, Vinny Raniolo, Stephanie Janes PR, Colorado, Gunnison Valley, Mono, Talea Ensemble, Wordless Orchestra, Jonny Greenwood, Radiohead