Lynn L. Petersen began piano lessons at the age of six with her mother as her first teacher, and showed an early interest in composition and improvisation. She earned a B.S. in Elementary Education from Dr. Martin Luther College, a Master of Church Music degree from Concordia College-River Forest, and a Ph.D. in Music Theory and Composition from the University of Minnesota. Her composition teachers included Dominick Argento, Paul Fetler, Richard Hillert, and Carl Schalk. She recently completed a sabbatical in jazz studies at Washington State University under the tutelage of Dr. Gregory Yasinitsky.

Dr. Petersen currently holds the position of Associate Professor of Music at Carroll College in Helena, Montana, where she has taught since 1999. She has also taught at St. Olaf College, the University of Minnesota, and St. Cloud State University, and she has held church music positions in the Twin Cities and Colorado Springs. She frequently serves as a piano adjudicator at music festivals and has remained active as a pianist and organist.

Lynn's compositions include music for orchestra, band, jazz ensemble, chamber ensembles, choir, voice, piano, organ, and music for liturgy and worship. Commissioned works include "Patterned for Thee," a song cycle based on the poetry of Sister Annette Moran (Carroll College, 2009), "Starry Crown Suite for organ" (AGO Region VIII, 2007), Mary Dyer, Martyr, a song cycle based on the poetry of Helen Marie Casey (Montana State Music Teachers Association, 2006), and "Whirlwind Duo for flute and organ" (Myrna Loy Center Grant-to-Artists, 2004).