Daniel E. Perttu

Dr. Daniel Perttu works as a Professor of Music Theory and Composition at Westminster College, where he also took his turn as the Chair of the School of Music from July, 2014, through June, 2022.  Although getting performances of new music by orchestras is challenging for living composers, his music has been performed by many professional orchestras on three continents. In addition, his chamber music has been performed on four continents and in over 40 of the United States.  His international credits include performances by the Niš Symphony Orchestra and Subotica Philharmonic (Serbia), the Falcón Symphony Orchestra (Venezuela), and a recording by the Moravian Philharmonic (Czech Republic). In the states, his recent orchestral credits include the Canton Symphony Orchestra (Ohio), Muscatine Symphony (Iowa), Perrysburg Symphony (Ohio), Space Coast Symphony Orchestra (Florida), Firelands Symphony (Ohio), Fox Valley Symphony (Wisconsin), Acadiana Symphony (Louisiana), Oklahoma Composers' Orchestra, Greenville Symphony (Pennsylvania), Orchestra Omaha, and Lakeland Civic Orchestra (Ohio). Performances slated for 2022-23 include his "Planets Odyssey" for piano and orchestra, written for Jeffrey Biegel, which will be performed by the Flagstaff Symphony (Arizona). His overture, "To Spring," will be performed by the Space Coast Symphony and by another orchestra in 2022-23, and his concert opener, "Phoenix" will be performed by two orchestras, including the Wheeling Symphony (West Virginia) in the 2022-2023 season.

Performances of his music have also occurred in arts festivals, new music festivals and concerts, solo recitals at the international, national, and regional levels, Society of Composers conferences, and College Music Society conferences.  Dr. Perttu's music can be found on the Navona records label, in which his music has appeared on five albums.  Besides his CD releases, Dr. Perttu’s music has been published by Editions Musica Ferrum (Athens, Greece), BRS Music, Inc., as well as Dorn Publications.  Dr. Perttu has also received various commissions and awards from throughout the country. He completed his doctorate at The Ohio State University, master's degrees at Kent State University, and bachelor's degree at Williams College, graduating magna cum laude and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa.