Memphis Symphony Names New Assistant Conductor

Conductor Kyle Dickson will step into the role

In the Assistant Conductor position, Kyle Dickson will work under Music Director Robert Moody atThe Memphis Symphony Orchestra (MSO).

Dickson is presently a Salonen Conducting Fellow with the San Francisco Symphony and studies under Esa-Pekka Salonen at the Colburn School. He is also the recipient of the 2021 Grant Park Music Festival Advocate for Arts Award, as well as the Robert S. Weinart Award of the Concert Artists Guild.

Previously, Dickson served as the Assistant Conductor of the Chicago Sinfonietta for the 2021/22 season and has appeared as either Assistant or cover conductor for the Orchestre de Paris, NDR Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, New York Philharmonic, and the symphony orchestras of Baltimore, St. Louis, Minnesota, San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, and the National Symphony (Washington, DC).

Dickson has also studied conducting at Northwestern University and studied violin performance and music education at DePaul University and Michigan State University.

"I am thrilled to have Kyle Dickson joining the MSO family as our new Assistant Conductor," said Robert Moody. "He is already a rising star, both in the world of conducting, and also in education and outreach. Memphis is going to love this guy!"

"This is a very important position for the orchestra and we could not have found a better person for it," said Peter Abell, the Executive Director of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. "Not only will Kyle learn and grow from Robert Moody, but he will be our leader for school and community programs while also serving as an artistic leader for the Memphis Youth Symphony. I expect he will add a flare of energy and excitement into the orchestra."

"Kyle is a skilled musician and passionate educator with much to offer our talented young musicians," said Brittany Cooper-d'Orsay, the Executive Director of the Memphis Youth Symphony Program. "We are so excited to welcome him to the Memphis Youth Symphony Program community!"