Honoring a Lasting Legacy, Gifted Music School changes name to Diana & Joel Peterson School of Music
(PRUnderground) May 5th, 2026
Gifted Music School is proud to announce its name change to the Diana & Joel Peterson School of Music, honoring the legacy of Diana Peterson and her late husband Joel, whose longstanding support has been integral in accomplishing the school’s mission and shaping its community.
“Diana Peterson, currently board chairman, has been a visionary and a steadfast core member of the leadership team at the school since the early years. She and Joel have been supporters at the Gifted Music School since its founding, actively helping to steer the school towards accessibility, sustainability, and excellence,” said founder Eugene Watanabe. “In the renaming of the school, the institution and community at large are able to recognize their unrelenting hard work and unwavering belief in and commitment to the power of music education in shaping the future of our country and our world.”
In 2008, the nonprofit was founded on the belief that students, when given the opportunity to pursue music at the highest level, would become not only exceptional musicians, but exemplary human beings. It was named “Gifted Music School” in tribute to legendary music schools in Russia, signaling its commitment to world-class music education.
Since its start, the school envisioned one day recognizing donors whose impact reflects its values, following in the footsteps of globally recognized institutions such as The Juilliard School and The Curtis Institute of Music. While the school is now making that change in its name, its mission and core values of collaboration, excellence, and accessibility remain the same. With an updated name, the school looks forward to defining its next chapter and expanding its impact even further, all while honoring its long-time legacy.
Diana has served as a board member and board chair for Gifted Music School in Salt Lake City for the past 15 years. She has been recognized for her dedication to driving children’s education in Utah, including an honor at Lincoln Center Education’s Annual Benefit Gala in 2015, where she served on the board.
Additionally, Diana is an accomplished pianist and vocalist. She has sung with the BYU A Cappella Choir and the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“Music education is so important to a human being … It’s transformative. Children who have experienced excellent music education learn to listen carefully, to notice what isn’t working, and to do the hard work of improving and refining it,” Diana said. “They learn patience and discipline and persistence, so that a student who once struggled to concentrate can now work deeply, and one who avoided challenges begins to embrace them and experience the joy of doing well in something that seemed impossible a few weeks before, building into themselves the confidence needed to take on any challenge through the rest of their lives.”
Joel and Diana were married for 53 years, raising seven children and welcoming 33 grandchildren into the family. Joel, who passed away in November 2025, served as the Chairman of JetBlue Airways and was the founding partner of Salt Lake City-based investment firm Peterson Partners. Their children and grandchildren have followed in Diana’s footsteps, some of them becoming students at Gifted Music School.
“[Founders] Eugene and Vera and the teachers they’ve brought together at the school are experts at passing on the gift of music to their students, and the results are remarkable,” Diana said.
The Diana & Joel Peterson School of Music’s mission is realized through three interconnected programs. The GRIT program — based on the principles of Growth, Resilience, Instinct, and Tenacity — is a full-scholarship initiative that provides high-level music education to nearly 500 students across three Title I schools, opening doors for those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to discover and pursue music.
The Academy bridges the gap between early music study and pre-professional training, offering individualized instruction and private lessons that deepen each student’s musicianship.
At the highest level is the Conservatory, a prestigious full-scholarship program designed to prepare students for admission to the nation’s top music schools.
Together, these three programs form a pathway embodying the school’s mission of expanding access and advancing excellence in music education.
About Diana & Joel Peterson School of Music:
The Diana & Joel Peterson School of Music, formerly the Gifted Music School, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation committed to providing the highest level of music education. Based in Salt Lake City, the school launched in 2008 with the mission to provide a comprehensive pathway to world-class music education, with an expansive curriculum and distinguished faculty. Through its full-scholarship GRIT program, it ensures access to high-quality instruction for students of all backgrounds. The school stands as a beacon of musical excellence and education, shaping the young musicians of tomorrow. Visit petersonschoolofmusic.org for more information.
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