Peter Markes, Conductor - Oklahoma Youth Philharmonia
Peter Markes, conductor of the Oklahoma Youth Philharmonia and Oklahoma Youth Orchestra Chamber Ensemble, is currently in his ninth year as director for the Edmond North High School and Cheyenne Middle School orchestra programs. Under his direction, the Edmond North Orchestra enrollment has doubled to now include three separate ensembles, and together they have had debut performances in the Oklahoma Civic Center Music Hall, the Chicago Symphony Center, the Dallas Meyerson Symphony Center, and the world-famous Carnegie Hall.
Mr. Markes is a graduate of Oklahoma City University where he earned his bachelor degree in music education with emphasis in violin and guitar. As a lifelong classically and folk trained violinist and hobby guitarist, Mr. Markes has had the chance to perform with musical partner, Kyle Dillingham in over twenty countries in North, Central, and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. In 2000 while in Bangkok, Thailand, they recorded an album of thirteen original songs, titled Outside the Box. Mr. Markes still performs regularly with Dillingham as part of the band, Horseshoe Road.
In January of 2010, Mr. Markes was selected by School Band and Orchestra magazine as on the nation’s 50 Directors Who Make a Difference. In May of 2007, Mr. Markes was awarded a Governor's Commendation from Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry. In the same year, he was chosen by his colleagues as the Cheyenne Middle School Teacher of the Year, and he has twice been honored by former students as their Teacher of Honor at the Oklahoma Academic All-State Celebration of Excellence. Mr. Markes is currently in his second term as the Oklahoma Music Educators Association Honor Orchestra chair, serves as president of the North Central Honor Orchestra, and has served as a section violinist with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and concertmaster for the Enid Symphony Orchestra. He is a proud three-year alum of the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain and an active member of numerous professional organizations. Mr. Markes resides in Oklahoma City with his wife, Kris and their son, Patrick.
