Wilson Hall 3038
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Byron W. Petty, (b.1955) flutist, pianist, composer, and conductor, holds a BM degree in flute performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, where he studied with the noted flutist, Britton Johnson. As a member of the ARDO DUO, Petty and his wife, Dr. Shuko Watanabe (piano) have performed throughout the Eastern U.S. and in Japan. He has served as Instructor of Piano at Roanoke College, VA and Instructor of Flute and Piano at Southern Virginia University. He is a Lecturer in Music (Flute) and has taught courses in Composition and Musical Analysis as Visiting Assistant Professor of Music at Washington & Lee University.

Petty has appeared frequently as a solo pianist and chamber musician on the Con Spirito Concert Series of Roanoke, Virginia and has been a judge for the 21st through 23rd annual Bartok-Kabalesky- Prokoviev International Piano Competition held at Radford University, VA, the 2003 Virginia Music Teachers Association Collegiate Concerto Competition, and the Bland Music Scholarship Competition. From 1995-2002, Petty was the Conductor/Music Director of the Eurydice Community Orchestra of Roanoke, VA and subsequently, the Artistic Director from 2002 through 2003. Appearances with both Con Spirito and E.C.O.R. have been broadcast on Public Radio’s Music Around Roanoke 89.1 FM.

As a composer, his works have been performed at regional meetings of the Society of Composers Inc., Southeastern Composer’s League, College Music Society, and at the 1994 National Alliance of Saxophonists Conference held at West Virginia University. He has appeared in 1993, 1995, and 2003 on programs of the New Horizons Concerts of New Music at Radford University, VA.

Petty was selected as the Virginia Music Teachers Association Commissioned Composer for 1995. From 1996-1998 he served as Composition Chair for the Mid-Atlantic chapter of the College Music Society, where he established a composition competition for college students. As Independent Composer Representative on the National Executive Committee for the Society of Composers Inc., (2000-2002) Petty’s commentary From the Smug to the Bitter and an interview with D.C. area composer Donna Kelly Eastman were published in the SCI National Newsletter. Petty has received commissions from the K. & W. Group Inc., Olin Conservation Inc., the Department of Geology of Virginia Polytechnical Institute, the Toho Koto Society of Washington D.C. and numerous private commissions. Recent compositional performances and premieres include: "Before it happens" for Clarinet and Orchestra performed by the Sweet Briar College Chamber Orchestra, “From the Helm” for Flute and Piano, by ARDO DUO at Radford University , VA , “Ach! How to be!” for Voice, Violin, and Clarinet, by ARDO CONSORT at Washington and Lee University, VA, “Rokudan” (orchestration) for Koto and Orchestra with the D.C. Youth Orchestra and the Washington Toho Koto Society at the Historic Lincoln Theater in D.C. and at the University of Maryland and "Gestures from the Bridge" for Orchestra, performed by the Eurydice Community Orchestra of Roanoke, VA.

In July 2003, Petty appeared as featured Composer in Residence for the Contemporary American Theater Festival, held at Shepherd College, Shepherdstown, West Virginia, presenting a master-class and two concerts of his works including the newly commissioned “Mysteries of the Orchard”. On February 21, 2004 at the Con Spirito Concert Series in Roanoke , VA and February 29, 2004 at Washington and Lee University , Mr. Petty and the ARDO CONSORT presented a concert devoted exclusively to his compositions. In 2005, Petty will be releasing a CD (FIRE HENGE) of recent works on the Capstone Record Label.