Dan “Pete” Peterson’s baton is legendary. He was Director of Bands at Truman for 36 years, and throughout that time his ensembles were consistently featured at numerous regional and national conventions. He was elected to the Missouri Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame in 2008 and continues to work with bands as a clinician, consultant and drill designer to this day. To commemorate his illustrious career, To The Last Ta Da! was commissioned by a group of former students and friends to honor Peterson’s nearly 50 years in music education.
The surprise effort was organized by Brad Hudson, Kirksville High School Director of Bands and partially funded through the Foundation’s Truman Band Fund. Other contributors included Brad Balog (’98, ’00, ’01), Professor Tony Falcone, Dr. Tim Oliver (’93, ’95, ’96), Professor Troy Peterson (’87) and the current Director of Bands at Truman, Dr. Curran Prendergast to honor a man known for his endless dedication to his students and the world of music education. The piece was premiered and presented to Peterson on Monday, April 28th in Baldwin Auditorium by the combined Kirksville High School Symphonic Band and Truman’s Wind Symphony I and conducted by Peterson’s son, Troy, a Kirksville High School and Truman graduate.
“Ta Da” was a well-known phrase among his students and bands. “My Dad used ‘Ta Da’ to share the joy of progress and celebrate great work. In rehearsals, when the band reached a high point or performed exceptionally well, ‘Ta Da’ acted as praise and a sign of pride in their achievement,” said Troy Peterson. This work is a fitting tribute to Peterson’s legacy.