(Charles) Dean Dixon

Dean Dixon
Photo by Carl Van Vechten, 1941
Background information
Birth name	Charles Dean Dixon
Born	January 10, 1915 New York City, New York, USA
Died	November 3, 1976 (age 61) Zürich, Switzerland
Genre(s)	Classical
Occupation(s)	Conductor
Years active	1961-1972
Associated acts	Gothenburg Symphony HR-Sinfonieorchester Sydney Symphony

Charles Dean Dixon (January 10, 1915 – November 3, 1976) was an American conductor.

Biography

Dixon 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 was born in New York City where he later 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 in Sweden 1953-60, the Sydney Symphony in Australia 1964 to 1967, and the hr-Sinfonieorchester in Frankfurt from 1961 to 1974. Dixon returned to the United States for guest conducting engagements with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, and San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in the 1970s. He also served as the conductor of the Brooklyn Philharmonic, where he gained fame for his children's concerts,

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. Dixon was honoured the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) with the Award of Merit for encouraging the participation of American youth in music.

Dixon died in Zürich, Switzerland.

References

• Dean Dixon biography at the African American Registry

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