“Giving the gift of music is not about us, and it’s not about or our self-worth, insecurities, or being impressive to the rest of the world. It's about giving a gift, freely, with love. We never know who is going to be in our audience, and we never know who needs to hear us, or why. We have an opportunity to reach people in ways we don't even understand ourselves. Our job is simply to be the music, and share it.”
— Timothy Dixon
“Giving the gift of music is not about us, and it’s not about or our self-worth, insecurities, or being impressive to the rest of the world. It's about giving a gift, freely, with love. We never know who is going to be in our audience, and we never know who needs to hear us, or why. We have an opportunity to reach people in ways we don't even understand ourselves. Our job is simply to be the music, and share it.”
— Timothy Dixon
Timothy Dixon is the Director of Orchestral Studies at Messiah University (PA), the Music Director / Conductor of the American Youth Philharmonic (VA) and the Conductor Laureate of the West Shore Symphony Orchestra (PA). He has conducted professional orchestras and opera productions in the United States, Germany and Ukraine, as well as numerous all-state orchestras nationally. He is widely praised by musicians of all ages for his compelling performances and his warm, collaborative leadership style.
At Messiah University, Dixon conducts the symphony and chamber orchestras, opera productions, and teaches conducting at the graduate and undergraduate level. Under his leadership, the Messiah University Symphony Orchestra has been invited by competitive audition to perform at the National Association for Music Education Eastern Regional Conference (2015), and multiple times at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Conference (2007, 2014, 2018). He has performed with artists such as David Kim (concertmaster, Philadelphia Orchestra), Frits Damrow (principal trumpet, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra), and Barry Green (former principal bass, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and author of The Inner Game of Music), and his performances have been praised by composers such as Pulitzer-prize winner Karel Husa.
During his tenure as music director of the West Shore Symphony Orchestra, Dixon led a process of significant artistic growth and community engagement, including the creation of an engaging family concert series, which proved to be very popular with orchestra and audiences alike. Upon stepping down from his position, the board of directors unanimously appointed Dixon its first Conductor Laureate. Since then, he has appeared multiple times with the orchestra.
Equally at home in the theatre pit, Dixon's opera performances at Messiah University have been recognized by the National Opera Association in their annual opera competition (1st place, 2013 - The Medium and 2nd place, 2016 - The Tender Land ). Dixon also regularly conducts the Harrisburg Opera, and conducted the most recent performances of The Nutcracker with the Pennsylvania Regional Ballet. In these positions he has worked with guest artists from the Metropolitan Opera and the New York City Ballet.
An advocate for music education, Dixon is active as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States, and is the music director of the American Youth Philharmonic, a premiere youth orchestra in the Washington DC area. AYPO has performed at the Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, the National Orchestral Festival, and the Spoleto Festival (South Carolina). Former members of AYPO can be found in major orchestras throughout the United States.
Timothy Dixon holds the D.M.A. in Orchestral Conducting from the University of Iowa, the M.M. in Orchestral Conducting from Michigan State University, and a B.A. and B.M. in Music (clarinet) and Music Education from Miami University (OH).
Timothy Dixon lives outside of Harrisburg, PA with his wife, Roxanne, a music educator in the Camp Hill School District, and his children, Delaney and Alex.