John Jeter

John Jeter is an acclaimed conductor and the longtime Music Director of the Fort Smith Symphony in Arkansas, currently in his 28th season. He is known for transforming the orchestra from a modest community group into a regional ensemble with international recognition. Jeter has gained particular acclaim for his recordings on Naxos Records, especially for being the only conductor to have recorded every known orchestral work by Florence Price, a pioneering African-American composer. His recordings have helped bring Price’s music and other important works like those of William Grant Still and Native American composer Louis Ballard to a wider audience.

Beyond his work with the Fort Smith Symphony, Jeter's recordings have received critical praise from prestigious outlets including The Gramophone and The New York Times. He has recorded several world premieres, including Florence Price’s Symphony No. 4. His efforts have been recognized with honors such as Arkansas Artist of the Year and the Helen M. Thompson Award. Jeter’s dedication to preserving and promoting underrepresented classical composers has made a significant impact on the contemporary classical music landscape.

Genres

Orchestra

Classical

Contemporary Classical

Chamber Music

Opera

Choral

Orchestral Music

Symphonic Music

Crossover Classical

Related Artists

Adolphus Hailstork

William Grant Still

Ludovico Einaudi

Max Richter

Ólafur Arnalds

Nils Frahm

Thomas Newman

André Previn

Philip Glass

Arvo Pärt

Leonard Slatkin

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

Latest Release

Price: Choral Works

Florence Beatrice Price•

John Jeter

Album - 18 Tracks - Released August 8, 2025