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Dean Dixon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dean Dixon (January 10, 1915, New York City - November 3, 1976, Zürich, Switzerland) was an American conductor. He is recognized as the first African-American to conduct major American symphony orchestras, and one of the first Americans to hold a leading post with European orchestras.
Dixon studied conducting with Albert Stoessel at the Juilliard School and Columbia University. When early pursuits to conducting engagements were stifled because of racial bias, he formed his own orchestra and choral society in 1931. In 1941, he guest conducted the NBC Symphony, and the New York Philharmonic during its summer season. He later guest conducted the Philadelphia Orchestra and Boston Symphony. In 1949, he left the United States for the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, which he directed during its 1950 and 1951 seasons. He was principal conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra in Sweden 1953-60, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in Australia 1964-67, and the Hesse Radio Symphony (now the HR Symphony Orchestra) in Frankfurt from 1961-74. Dixon returned to the United States for guest conducting engagements with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, and Philadelphia Orchestra in the 1970s.
Having conducted most of the major symphony orchestras in Africa, Israel, and South America as well, he introduced the works of many American composers, such as William Grant Still, to European audiences. The American Society of American Composers, Authors and Publishers honored him with the Award of Merit for encouraging the participation of American youth in music.
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| Preceded by Issay Dobrowen |
Principal Conductors, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra 1953–1960 |
Succeeded by Sergiu Comissiona |
| Preceded by Otto Mazerath |
Music Directors, hr Symphony Orchestra 1961–1974 |
Succeeded by Eliahu Inbal |
| Preceded by Nikolai Malko |
Chief Conductors, Sydney Symphony Orchestra 1964–1967 |
Succeeded by Willem van Otterloo |