An autodidact of sorts, he privately studied counterpoint, orchestration and orchestral scores by composers as diverse as Bach, Prokofiev, Weil and Michael Nyman eventually forging his own unique style - an anachronistic blend of 20th century minimalism with romanticism, classicism and jazz.

In 2007 he completed a ballet based on the architecture of Antonio Gaudi entitled: "Gaudi - Dancing About Architecture." SJ Pettersson's latest release is "A Dream Play - A Chamber Opera for Soloists and Small Orchestra" based on the 1901 play by the Swedish playwright August Strindberg.

Selected parts of the opera were performed in New York September 2009 as part of Vox Novus Composer's Voice concert series, in May 2010 as part of Metropolis Opera Project's "M.O.P Bucket " concert and had its West Coast premiere / CD release event in June 2010 at Classical Music LA's concert series at The Lounge in Hermosa Beach and subsequently at the famous Classical Underground venue in October 2010.

His current project is a chamber opera based on a revisionist view of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet projected to be finished in fall of 2011, and a song cycle / ballet titled "The Dracula Letters" based on letters and diary entries from Bram Stoker's Dracula.

A Dream Play

Romeo and Juliet