James Allen Dixon was born in Estherville, Iowa and raised and educated in Guthrie Center, Iowa. He started working at the age of 11 as a shoe shine boy at a barber shop. He went on to work in a bakery, followed by a year serving as the part owner of a small farm.[1] He conducted his first orchestra on May 8, 1945 in Guthrie Center - the day Germany surrendered, ending World War II in Europe. The orchestra's conductor was out of town and Dixon volunteered to direct the impromptu concert.[2] Dixon studied conducting at the University of Iowa where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1952 and a master's degree in 1956. Between his undergraduate and graduate education, he served in the United States Army, where he conducted the Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra in Germany. He studied for nine years under his mentor, the distinguished Greek conductor, pianist, and composer Dimitris Mitropoulos.[3] Mitropoulos made Dixon his heir and left him his scores.[4]
Careeredit
Dixon first conducted the University of Iowa Symphony when he was a graduate student. After he received his master's degree he taught at the New England Conservatory. He conducted NEC's orchestra for 20 concerts during the 1959-1960 and the 1960-1961 seasons.[4] Dixon then served as the assistant conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra for a year before returning to the University of Iowa in 1962. He taught conducting and was the conductor of the University of Iowa Symphony. Dixon commissioned a symphony from Anthony Burgess, which was completed without payment. Burgess' Symphony No. 3 in C premiered in Iowa City on October 22, 1975. The symphony became the first public performance of the orchestral work of Burgess, and it significantly increased his composing activity.[5] During Dixon's tenure at Iowa, the International Society for Contemporary Music met for the first time in the United States (in 1976). The University of Iowa Symphony was one of three American orchestras chosen to perform an extensive program of new works.[3]
In 1965 James Dixon replaced Charles Gigante as the music director and conductor of the Tri-City Symphony Orchestra in Davenport, Iowa. It was renamed the Quad City Symphony while he was its music director. During his 29-year tenure with the orchestra he was credited with building the QCSO into “an ensemble of musical distinction that is respected for the innovation of its programming and artistic integrity.”[6] He also expanded the number of modern works into the orchestra's repertoire.
Later life and deathedit
Dixon retired from the Quad City Symphony in 1994. Three years later, he retired as the Philip Greeley Clapp/Carver Distinguished Professor of Music at the University of Iowa. During his career he served as a mentor to more than 30 conducting students and conducted the world premieres of approximately 40 new works.[1] Dixon led the Quad City Symphony for the last time in 2000. He died in Iowa City, Iowa at the age of 77 from complications from pneumonia and influenza.
Wuorinen: Music of Two Decades, Vol. 2 (Music & Arts, 1994)
Music of Charles Wuorinen: Two-Part Symphony / Chamber Concerto for Flute & Ten Players / Chamber Concerto for Tuba / Piano Concerto (Composers Recordings, 1997)
Quad City Symphony Orchestra (Disc Makers, 2001)
Referencesedit
^ ab"James Allen Dixon". Johnson County Iowa GenWeb. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
^Shaw, Mona. . Iowa Alumni Magazine. Archived from the original on 2017-08-22. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
^ ab"James A. Dixon". Iowa Alumni Association. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
^Hooper, Randall L. (2006). The Choral Music of Anthony Burgess and a Conductor's Study of Four Anthony Burgess Choral Pieces (DMA monograph). Louisiana State University. doi:10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.3453. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
^Joe Payne and Julie Jensen (2007-04-07). "Former Q-C conductor James Dixon dies". Quad-Cities Online. Retrieved 2012-06-07.
^Trotter, William (1995). Priest of Music: The Life of Dimitri Mitropoulos. Amadeus Press. p. 316. ISBN978-0931340819.
^"Bruckner Society of America". Information on the Kilenyi Bruckner Medal. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
February 15, 2024
james, dixon, conductor, james, dixon, april, 1929, april, 2007, orchestra, conductor, music, educator, united, states, during, career, principally, associated, with, university, iowa, quad, city, symphony, orchestra, contents, early, life, career, later, life. James Dixon April 26 1929 April 3 2007 was an orchestra conductor and music educator in the United States During his career he was principally associated with the University of Iowa and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Later life and death 4 Recognition 5 Partial discography 6 ReferencesEarly life editJames Allen Dixon was born in Estherville Iowa and raised and educated in Guthrie Center Iowa He started working at the age of 11 as a shoe shine boy at a barber shop He went on to work in a bakery followed by a year serving as the part owner of a small farm 1 He conducted his first orchestra on May 8 1945 in Guthrie Center the day Germany surrendered ending World War II in Europe The orchestra s conductor was out of town and Dixon volunteered to direct the impromptu concert 2 Dixon studied conducting at the University of Iowa where he earned a bachelor s degree in 1952 and a master s degree in 1956 Between his undergraduate and graduate education he served in the United States Army where he conducted the Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra in Germany He studied for nine years under his mentor the distinguished Greek conductor pianist and composer Dimitris Mitropoulos 3 Mitropoulos made Dixon his heir and left him his scores 4 Career editDixon first conducted the University of Iowa Symphony when he was a graduate student After he received his master s degree he taught at the New England Conservatory He conducted NEC s orchestra for 20 concerts during the 1959 1960 and the 1960 1961 seasons 4 Dixon then served as the assistant conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra for a year before returning to the University of Iowa in 1962 He taught conducting and was the conductor of the University of Iowa Symphony Dixon commissioned a symphony from Anthony Burgess which was completed without payment Burgess Symphony No 3 in C premiered in Iowa City on October 22 1975 The symphony became the first public performance of the orchestral work of Burgess and it significantly increased his composing activity 5 During Dixon s tenure at Iowa the International Society for Contemporary Music met for the first time in the United States in 1976 The University of Iowa Symphony was one of three American orchestras chosen to perform an extensive program of new works 3 In 1965 James Dixon replaced Charles Gigante as the music director and conductor of the Tri City Symphony Orchestra in Davenport Iowa It was renamed the Quad City Symphony while he was its music director During his 29 year tenure with the orchestra he was credited with building the QCSO into an ensemble of musical distinction that is respected for the innovation of its programming and artistic integrity 6 He also expanded the number of modern works into the orchestra s repertoire Later life and death editDixon retired from the Quad City Symphony in 1994 Three years later he retired as the Philip Greeley Clapp Carver Distinguished Professor of Music at the University of Iowa During his career he served as a mentor to more than 30 conducting students and conducted the world premieres of approximately 40 new works 1 Dixon led the Quad City Symphony for the last time in 2000 He died in Iowa City Iowa at the age of 77 from complications from pneumonia and influenza Recognition editElizabeth Sprague Coolidge Medal 1955 Mahler Medal of Honor The Bruckner Society of America 1962 7 8 Laurel Leaf Award 1978 Ditson Conductor s Award 1980 UIAA Distinguished Faculty Staff Award 2005 Honorary Doctorates Augustana College St Ambrose UniversityPartial discography editJames Dixon conducted the orchestra on the following recordings New music from the University of Iowa University of Iowa 1983 Antiphony IX Music amp Arts 1994 Wuorinen Music of Two Decades Vol 2 Music amp Arts 1994 Music of Charles Wuorinen Two Part Symphony Chamber Concerto for Flute amp Ten Players Chamber Concerto for Tuba Piano Concerto Composers Recordings 1997 Quad City Symphony Orchestra Disc Makers 2001 References edit a b James Allen Dixon Johnson County Iowa GenWeb Retrieved 2012 06 07 Shaw Mona An Orchestrated Life Iowa Alumni Magazine Archived from the original on 2017 08 22 Retrieved 2012 06 07 a b James A Dixon Iowa Alumni Association Retrieved 2012 06 07 a b James Dixon New England Conservatory Retrieved 2012 06 07 Hooper Randall L 2006 The Choral Music of Anthony Burgess and a Conductor s Study of Four Anthony Burgess Choral Pieces DMA monograph Louisiana State University doi 10 31390 gradschool dissertations 3453 Retrieved 2023 04 06 Joe Payne and Julie Jensen 2007 04 07 Former Q C conductor James Dixon dies Quad Cities Online Retrieved 2012 06 07 Trotter William 1995 Priest of Music The Life of Dimitri Mitropoulos Amadeus Press p 316 ISBN 978 0931340819 Bruckner Society of America Information on the Kilenyi Bruckner Medal Retrieved 7 May 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Dixon conductor amp oldid 1170214680, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
