Lower Merion Eighth-grader Chosen to Play Virtual Military Duet

Aidan Peterson, a 14-year-old from Ardmore, PA, is no stranger to performing alongside the military. Since 2015, Peterson has been a member of Bugles Across America, a volunteer organization that provides live buglers at military funerals. Peterson has sounded Taps over 300 times.

The Lower Merion eighth-grader has been using his musical gifts to spread job during the pandemic. His talent earned him the honor of being one of 50 students from around the world to take part in a virtual duet with a member of the United States Air Force Band.

Peterson practiced one part of Variazione 3a from Six Duets selected from the Works of Bimboni. A video of him playing was chosen, then paired with Technical Sergeant Chris Westrich playing the other part.

The video will be posted on the U.S. Air Force Band's Facebook page alongside the other duets.

Peterson, who has played the trumpet since the age of five, said he was honored to have been chosen out of about 180 international submissions for the new initiative.

"I love making music and using it to bring people joy," he said.

Peterson just finished his third season with the Delaware County Youth Orchestra and his first year as a trumpet major in the pre-college division at Juilliard. He attends The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, PA where he is active in the jazz band, orchestra, and honors combo.

He also plays the cello and has been doing virtual concerts weekly, bedside for patients at the VA Hospital in Philadelphia. Before the pandemic, his music therapy sessions were in-person. He says there have been some glitches with technology, but when everything works he knows it makes a huge difference for the veterans and hospital employees.

Peterson will be participating in several virtual Memorial Day events this month. He also plans to continue playing porch and parking lot concerts until the pandemic ends and he can return to the concert hall.