Peter Van de Graaff
Encyclopedia
Peter Van de Graaff is an American
musician. He is best known as the host of the Beethoven Satellite Network (BSN) overnight classical music service, which is carried over approximately 150 radio stations nationwide.
, where he received a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Vocal Performance. While there, he began working as an announcer on KBYU-FM, the university's classical-music FM radio station. He was also announcer for the Utah Symphony live broadcasts. Following his graduation he remained with the station, rising to the post of Senior Producer. In 1986 the station expanded to around-the-clock broadcasting, with Van de Graaf hosting the morning program. In 1988 Van de Graaff returned to Chicago, obtaining an announcer post at the city's fine-arts FM radio station WFMT
. In 1989 he became a program host for the syndicated Beethoven Satellite Network.
Van de Graaff married a professional soprano singer, Kathleen. They appear together occasionally, especially to perform the early eighteenth-century chamber works known as opera intermezzi.
Van de Graaff has performed with opera companies and orchestras worldwide. He speaks several languages, including Dutch, German, French. He also has studied Russian, Spanish and Italian.
Van de Graaff sings in the bass-baritone range, and has performed throughout the world. He performed and recorded a Vorisek
Mass with the Czech State Symphony under Paul Freeman. Accompanied by the Czech Philharmonic he has sung Beethoven's Missa Solemnis
throughout the Czech Republic and Poland. He appeared in Berlin with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
in Arnold Schoenberg
's Moses und Aaron. In Budapest
he sang with the Budapest Concert Orchestra in Verdi's Requiem
and in Tel Aviv, the Israel Chamber Orchestra
accompanied him in a Mass of Mozart. He performed a recital in Tokyo
. He has sung throughout the United States, with the Houston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Utah Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Syracuse Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, Omaha Symphony, Wichita Symphony, Colorado Springs Symphony, Richmond Symphony and others. He has performed with Pierre Boulez
, Christopher Wilkins, Paul Freeman
, Bernard Labadie, Paul Hillier
, Joseph Silverstein
, Robert Page, Thomas Wikman, Jane Glover
, Klaus-Peter Seibel
, Victor Yampolsky, James Paul
, Daniel Hege
and Nicholas Kraemer
. He was a soloist in the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival, Costa Rica International Music Festival, Chicago's Music of the Baroque, Pittsburgh Bach Choir, Grand Teton Music Festival, St. Louis Early Music Festival, Boulder Bach Festival and others. He and Kathleen have premiered several Intermezzi. He performed with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Florentine Opera, Milwaukee Opera, Rochester Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, and the Cedar Rapids Opera.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician. He is best known as the host of the Beethoven Satellite Network (BSN) overnight classical music service, which is carried over approximately 150 radio stations nationwide.
Biography
Van de Graaff is a native of Chicago, Illinois. He attended Brigham Young UniversityBrigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, where he received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in Vocal Performance. While there, he began working as an announcer on KBYU-FM, the university's classical-music FM radio station. He was also announcer for the Utah Symphony live broadcasts. Following his graduation he remained with the station, rising to the post of Senior Producer. In 1986 the station expanded to around-the-clock broadcasting, with Van de Graaf hosting the morning program. In 1988 Van de Graaff returned to Chicago, obtaining an announcer post at the city's fine-arts FM radio station WFMT
WFMT
WFMT is an FM radio station in Chicago, Illinois, featuring a format of fine arts, classical music programming, and shows exploring such genres as folk and jazz). The station is managed by Window To The World Communications, Inc., owner of WTTW, one of Chicago's two Public Broadcasting Service ...
. In 1989 he became a program host for the syndicated Beethoven Satellite Network.
Van de Graaff married a professional soprano singer, Kathleen. They appear together occasionally, especially to perform the early eighteenth-century chamber works known as opera intermezzi.
Van de Graaff has performed with opera companies and orchestras worldwide. He speaks several languages, including Dutch, German, French. He also has studied Russian, Spanish and Italian.
Career
Van de Graaff began his radio career in 1984 at KBYU-FM in Utah, then moved to WFMT in Chicago as a staff announcer in 1988. Beginning in 1989 he became a program host for the Beethoven Satellite Network, a nationally-syndicated classical music program service that is now carried on over 150 stations (he became Program Director of the Beethoven Satellite Network in 1996). He has hosted other nationwide broadcast series, including the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Van Cliburn Piano Series, Opera from the European Broadcasting Union, Music of the Baroque and the Vermeer Quartet.Van de Graaff sings in the bass-baritone range, and has performed throughout the world. He performed and recorded a Vorisek
Jan Václav Voríšek
Jan Václav Hugo Voříšek , was a Czech composer of classical music, pianist, and organist.-Life:...
Mass with the Czech State Symphony under Paul Freeman. Accompanied by the Czech Philharmonic he has sung Beethoven's Missa Solemnis
Missa Solemnis (Beethoven)
The Missa solemnis in D Major, Op. 123 was composed by Ludwig van Beethoven from 1819-1823. It was first performed on April 7, 1824 in St. Petersburg, under the auspices of Beethoven's patron Prince Nikolai Galitzin; an incomplete performance was given in Vienna on 7 May 1824, when the Kyrie,...
throughout the Czech Republic and Poland. He appeared in Berlin with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
in Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg
Arnold Schoenberg was an Austrian composer, associated with the expressionist movement in German poetry and art, and leader of the Second Viennese School...
's Moses und Aaron. In Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
he sang with the Budapest Concert Orchestra in Verdi's Requiem
Requiem (Verdi)
The Messa da Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi is a musical setting of the Roman Catholic funeral mass for four soloists, double choir and orchestra. It was composed in memory of Alessandro Manzoni, an Italian poet and novelist much admired by Verdi. The first performance in San Marco in Milan on 22 May...
and in Tel Aviv, the Israel Chamber Orchestra
Israel Chamber Orchestra
The Israel Chamber Orchestra is an Israeli orchestra based in Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Primary funding comes from the Israel Ministry of Education and the Tel Aviv Jaffa Municipality....
accompanied him in a Mass of Mozart. He performed a recital in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. He has sung throughout the United States, with the Houston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Utah Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Syracuse Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, Omaha Symphony, Wichita Symphony, Colorado Springs Symphony, Richmond Symphony and others. He has performed with Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
, Christopher Wilkins, Paul Freeman
Paul Freeman (conductor)
Paul Freeman is an African American conductor.Born in Richmond, Virginia, Freeman earned bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees from the Eastman School of Music. A Fulbright Scholarship enabled him to study for two years at the Berlin University of the Arts...
, Bernard Labadie, Paul Hillier
Paul Hillier
Paul Douglas Hillier is a conductor, music director and baritone. He specializes in early music and contemporary art music, especially that by composers Steve Reich and Arvo Pärt. He studied at Magdalen College, Oxford and the Guildhall School of Music, beginning his professional career while a...
, Joseph Silverstein
Joseph Silverstein
Joseph Silverstein is an American violinist and conductor.As a youth, Silverstein studied with his father, Bernard Silverstein, who was a public school music teacher...
, Robert Page, Thomas Wikman, Jane Glover
Jane Glover
Jane Glover CBE is a British-born conductor and music scholar.-Early life:Glover attended Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls. Her father, Robert Finlay Glover MA TD,was headmaster of Monmouth School and it was through this connection that she was able to meet Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears...
, Klaus-Peter Seibel
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra is an American orchestra based in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the only full-time, professional orchestra in the Gulf South. The music director is Carlos Miguel Prieto....
, Victor Yampolsky, James Paul
James Paul
James Paul is an American conductor. He is currently the music director and conductor of The Shedd Institute's Oregon Festival of American Music and its American Symphonia, and music director of the Oregon Coast Music Festival.-Career:James Paul studied voice at the Oberlin Conservatory of...
, Daniel Hege
Daniel Hege
Daniel Hege is an American orchestral conductor. He is the former music director of the former Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and currently the music director of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra. He also makes numerous guest appearances with orchestras across the country.- Biography :Hege was born in...
and Nicholas Kraemer
Nicholas Kraemer
Nicholas Kraemer is a British harpsichordist and conductor. Kraemer began his career as a harpsichordist...
. He was a soloist in the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival, Costa Rica International Music Festival, Chicago's Music of the Baroque, Pittsburgh Bach Choir, Grand Teton Music Festival, St. Louis Early Music Festival, Boulder Bach Festival and others. He and Kathleen have premiered several Intermezzi. He performed with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Florentine Opera, Milwaukee Opera, Rochester Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, and the Cedar Rapids Opera.