Dr. Alice Neff Petersen has been a Toledo Symphony Orchestra violinist since 1978, a Toledo Opera Orchestra and a University of Toledo part-time faculty member since 1980, Director of the Collegium Musicum early music ensemble, and occasional teacher of music history and the Introduction to Music course. She is founder, coordinator, and a performer in the area early music ensemble, Musica Antigua de Toledo. Dr. Petersen taught elementary strings in Peoria, IL; and was a violinist in Peoria Symphony String Quartet. She was the Director of Collegium Musicum at Ball State University from 1975-78.
Dr. Petersen studied with area violin teachers Betty Foster and Paul Makara, and was a member of the Toledo Youth Orchestra. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education, a Master of Music, and a Doctor of Arts from Ball State University in violin and music history; studying with violin teachers Otto Feld and Robert Slaughter; her doctoral dissertation and emphasis in early music performance. Dr. Petersen did further early music study with New York Pro Musica, Ensemble for Early Music, Helmuth Rilling, Aston Magna Academy, Amherst Early Music Workshop, Vancouver Early Music Workshop, Maddison Early Music Workshop. She spent an academic year in Germany on a music study and travel program from the University of Oregon, which included violin study with recording artist, Suzanne Lautenbacher, Stuttgart, Germany; violin and chamber music study at Brevard Music Center, Rocky Ridge Music Center, Taos School of Chamber Music, and Suzuki and Paul Rolland workshops.
Her leisure enjoyments include sewing, gardening, and travel. Favorite composers are Brahms, Mahler, and Josquin des Prez. She enjoys folk music and light popular music as well as classical and early music. Dr. Petersen is an active member of Euterpean Music Club and Sigma Alpha Iota Women’s Music Fraternity, Northwest Ohio Alumnae Chapter. She is coordinator of Musica Antigua de Toledo, an area ensemble performing medieval, renaissance, baroque and colonial American music, using voices and historical instruments. The group has its own concert series and offers the following educational programs:
Music in the Middle Ages and Renaissance - Mini-Concert with slides and verbal explanation , for all grade levels
Music in the Middle Ages - Participatory program with slides, involving children in story and activities related to the music
A Sampling of Medieval Song - Mini-concert with explanation of medieval songs of wandering minstrels, with several period instruments
The Recorder, Its History and Musical Companions - Demonstration program showing all sizes of recorder, its use in different periods and numerous other instruments of early periods
Music of Colonial America and the Revolutionary War - Mini-concert with pictures and explanation of historical events and music from the early Colonies to close of Revolutionary War
Ohio’s History Through Music - Mini-concert tracing the populating of Ohio from natives, through pioneers, 19th-century developments, ending early 20th century
"As the Centuries Turn:" Music of the Last Millennium - Music history in a nutshell as it changed in style century by century, aided by posters creating a timeline of events in music and society
Inner Structure of Music and Art--Renaissance and Baroque - looking at similarities in basic aspects of music and art and contrasts between the two periods
Form and Ornament in Renaissance and Baroque Music and Art -- presenting basic forms in music and architecture, how they are transformed with ornament and how the two periods contrast
Musica Antigua is also available for special performances, entertainment or educational; call Alice Petersen or check for website information at www.MusicaAntiguaToledo.org
Alice also performs in Strings of Choice, which offers various ensembles, available for weddings and entertainment. The primary ensemble is a string quartet; others include duos of 2 violins, violin/cello, violin/harpsichord; trios of 2 violins/cello, 2 violins and harpsichord; 2 violins, cello, harpsichord or harpsichord with string quartet. The groups are available at competitive prices and have a large repertoire available. A tape of wedding music excerpts is available for loan. Call Alice Petersen for information.
Phone 419-475-6177 Email: alice.petersen@utoledo.edu. Dr. Petersen is available for violin, viola performing and private teaching, schedule permitting.
Dr. Petersen is a Toledo native, the widow of graphic designer Gary Petersen. She has three grown stepsons, cats and a rabbit.