Dean Dixon

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Dean Dixon (January 10, 1915, New York City - November 3, 1976, Zürich) 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 from 1953 to 1960, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in Australia from 1964 and 1967, and the Hesse Radio Symphony (now the hr Symphony Orchestra) from 1960 to 1974.

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.

[edit] External links

• Biography from the African American Registry

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