Peter Stafford Wilson became the Springfield Symphony Orchestra's eighth music director in 2002 following a national search, and in the ensuing five years, he has brought new excitement and energy to the ensemble, which currently is enjoying renewed critical and audience acclaim.

Internationally renowned artists such as Hilary Hahn, Andre Watts, and Twyla Robinson have shared the stage with Wilson and the SSO, and leaders from the Orchestra have also had their turn in the soloist's spotlight. Adventuresome programming, such as a complete cycle of the Brandenburg Concerti of J.S.Bach performed in the course of one evening, and a dramatic pairing of tone poems by Respighi played consecutively have marked Wilson's style, as has the occasional warhorse encore.

International attention has focused on the SSO for events such as Agriculture & The Arts Growing Together, a photo-choreographed collage of images of local farmers at work set to the timeless music of Aaron Copland, and the upcoming American Made: A Celebration of Manufacturing, a multi-media program conveying the story of American manufacturing through video images set to the music of contemporary American composers. Springfield's Choice, an on-line audience poll has wrapped the Springfield audience into the programming process, and Wilson's passion for the Springfield community is well evidenced by his collaborations with local artists and institutions such as Wittenberg University, Choral Arts Springfield, and the Clark State Community College Theater Department.

Wilson's desire to actively engage the public in the music-making process is evidenced by his rejuvenation of the SSO Chorale, a volunteer vocal component to the Orchestra, and his new Night Lights Series which has elicited high praise for its creative programming and relaxed atmosphere. Henry Fogel, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Symphony Orchestra League recently commented on a Night Lights event he had witnessed, "It was a great pleasure to spend the day recently with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and in particular hearing the wonderful concert, an extremely imaginative program that was splendidly played by the Orchestra. You should be very proud of what this Orchestra has accomplished."

Wilson's popularity with Springfield audiences goes well beyond the podium. His regular visits with the Springfield Rotary Club and the Springfield Kiwanis have elicited high praise, and he actively supports the efforts of the Springfield Arts Council, the Springfield Museum of Art, and the Westcott House Foundation. "I knew from my initial visits to Springfield that this was an amazing community, anxious for a cultural identity as unique and individual as its generous means could create." Wilson often comments that the Springfield Arts Council's Summer Arts Festival, with its myriad of acts and impressive public and business support, was a key factor in his decision to accept the SSO's offer.

Wilson's commitment to the young concertgoers and musicians of the Clark County area is well evidenced by his annual leadership of the SSO's Concerts for Young People, a collaboration with the Clark State Performing Arts Center, and his watchful eye (and ear) over the Springfield Youth Symphony.

A native of North Carolina, Peter Stafford Wilson studied at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music, where his primary mentor was the late Thomas Schippers. During his years at CCM, he became a leading exponent of contemporary music, often collaborating with faculty and student composers, including the Conservatory's Visiting Professor of Composition, Lukas Foss. Mr. Wilson also studied at the Aspen Music School where his teacher was Dennis Russell Davies, Eastern Music Festival (on whose faculty he subsequently served), Pierre Monteux School, Boris Goldovsky Summer Opera Institute and Rome's Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia where he was associated with Franco Ferrara. After his advanced studies, he was appointed Assistant, and later Associate, Conductor of the Canton Symphony Orchestra. While in Canton, Wilson established the Canton Cultural Center for the Arts' Mary and Louise Timken Young Artists Competition.

The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra appointed him Regional Pops Conductor for the 1995 summer season, during which he led the orchestra in a series of widely acclaimed performances in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Wilson also serves the Columbus Symphony Orchestra as Associate conductor, and the Westerville Symphony where he is Music Director. Mr. Wilson also has enjoyed a multi-year artistic relationship with The Cleveland Orchestra, often serving as cover conductor for Severance Hall and Blossom Music Center events. In 1996, the American Symphony Orchestra League featured Wilson in its Conductor Preview event, a program encouraging emerging conducting talent in the US.

Peter Stafford Wilson's schedule has taken him around the world! He has guest conducted the orchestras of Bozeman, Chautauqua, Dallas, Detroit, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Louisville, North Carolina, Phoenix, Roanoke, Seattle, Syracuse, Tucson, Tulsa, West Virginia and Youngstown. He also led the Independence Day Concert with Peter Nero's Philly Pops Orchestra and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic's highly popular "Awesome Classics" series, the Orquesta Filarmonica de Montevideo, and Hong Kong Sinfonietta.

No stranger to the lyric theater, Mr. Wilson has held the positions of Principal Conductor of South Carolina's Opera Charleston and Music Director of the Ohio Light Opera and conducted performances at Spoleto Festival USA, Young Artists Opera Theater, College Light Opera, Canton Lyric Opera and Otterbein College Opera Theatre. He also enjoys an on-going association with BalletMet in Columbus. His regular tours with the Columbus Symphony Youth Orchestra have taken him to Europe and on a highly acclaimed tour of China, where he conducted a performance on the Great Wall of China!

When not conducting, Wilson actively enjoys golf, reading, is an avid gourmet cook, and wine enthusiast, and surrounds himself with music of all kinds. His wife Barbara is a Senior Tax Accountant with White Castle System, and together they serve as staff for their two cats, Scooter and Jessica.