Akropolis is excited to be joining the McNary High School Wind Ensemble in the west coast premiere of “Dawn to Dance” by Peter Terry, a concerto commissioned by Akropolis for reed quintet and high school band.
“Dawn to Dance” was premiered by Akropolis and the Detroit School of Arts Wind Ensemble in 2019 as a part of Akropolis’ Together We Sound Festival. Composer Peter Terry and Akropolis worked with the DSA students throughout the school year, worshiping the commission in addition to composing works for reed quintet individually. Students received hands-on experience with Terry generating the themes and musical ideas for the piece. Terry’s concerto celebrates these dedicated students, the city of Detroit, and our decade-long commitment to K-12 education.
About the Composer
Peter Terry is an award-winning composer, conductor and educator. He holds a bachelor’s degree in trumpet from the University of Michigan, a master’s degree in music composition and theory from Bowling Green State University, and a doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin in music composition and theory with an emphasis in computer music synthesis and applications.
Dr. Terry’s compositions have been performed and broadcast worldwide and appear on numerous contest and festival required music lists. With over 50 works published by Carl Fischer, Excelcia Music, BRS Music, and Music for Percussion, Inc., Dr. Terry is sought out for commissions by numerous chamber groups, choirs, concert bands and orchestras. He is accomplished at every level of ensemble writing from beginner to middle school, high school and advanced ensembles. His music is colorful, dramatic, and characterized by a rhythmic verve and a deep lyricism that shows the influences of American popular music, world music and American classical composers such as Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland and Samuel Barber. He is particularly proud of the emphasis on playability and melodic interest for all the instruments in his compositions.
Dr. Terry has served on the faculties of the University of Texas at Austin, Cal State-Los Angeles, Bowling Green State University and Bluffton University. He served on the composition/theory faculty of the Interlochen Arts Camp from 1991-2017.