After spending ten years away from Athens, Ohio, Chelsa Peterson has
returned to her hometown as the new Program Specialist at ARTS/West, which is a
part of the City of Athens’ Arts, Parks and Recreation Department.
Chelsa
graduated from Alexander High School in 2002 with top honors. After spending a
year at Ohio University, she relocated to Boone, North Carolina to study at
Appalachian State University (pronounced
app-a-latch-un). After four years of studying, singing, hiking on the
Blue Ridge Parkway, and eating Woodlands BBQ, Chelsa graduated Cum Laude with a
Bachelor of Science, Arts Administration, a Bachelor of Arts, Vocal
Performance, and a Minor in Business.
She was an active member of the Sigma Alpha Iota Epsilon Theta chapter
and M.E.I.S.A. (Music Entertainment Industry Student Association).
In the summer of 2007, after a memorable trip
to China and Japan with her brother, mother and grandmother, Chelsa moved to
Chicago, Illinois where she started her internship with the Lyric Opera of
Chicago’s Ticket Department. Since then she has been a ticketing supervisor at
the Ravinia Festival, an Operations Coordinator at the Steans Music Institute
and a Program Coordinator for Midwest Young Artists where she coordinated
auditions, summer programs, choral programs, Music & Movement, as well as
private teaching. While in Chicago, Chelsa participated in the Evanston Sigma
Alpha Iota Alumnae Chapter, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Overture Council,
and was a member of the DePaul Community Choir as well as With One Voice.
Chelsa is the daughter of local musician Metra Peterson and local contractor
Jeff Peterson, co-owner of Peterson Brothers Construction. She enjoys good
music, good beer, good food and good company.
