Amy Dickson

Amy Dickson (born 1982) is an Australian classical saxophone player.

Not to be confused with Amy Dickinson.

Early life

Dickson was born in Sydney. She began to play piano at the age of two, and saxophone at the age of six.[1] She initially played 'some jazz' in her youth, but eventually focused her saxophone training entirely on the classical repertoire.[2] She made her concerto debut at age 16, playing the Concerto pour Saxophone Alto by Pierre Max Dubois, with Henryk Pisarek and the Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra. Dickson became a recipient of the James Fairfax Australian Young Artist of the Year. She subsequently moved to London, where she took the Jane Melber Scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music with Kyle Horch. She also has studied at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with Arno Bornkamp.[2] During this time, she became the first saxophonist to win the Gold Medal at the Royal Overseas League Competition, the ABC Symphony Australia Young Performers Awards, and the Prince's Prize. Amy's UK studies were supported by a grant from the Tait Memorial Trust.[3]

Career

In 2005 and 2011, Dickson performed for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings at the Teatru Manoel in Valletta, Malta, and the Perth Concert Hall, Australia. She has also performed at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, St James’ Palace in London and for former Australian Prime Minister John Howard at Parliament House, Canberra. In October 2013, Dickson won the Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the Classic Brits awards, the first saxophonist to be so honoured.[4]

Dickson has commissioned new works from such composers as Brett Dean, Ross Edwards (composer), Peter Sculthorpe, Graham Fitkin, Steve Martland and Huw Watkins.[1] She has also arranged concertante works by Philip Glass and John Tavener, originally composed for other solo instruments, for saxophone.[5] Now resident in London, she is an ambassador of the Australian Children’s Music Foundation and of The Prince's Foundation for Children and the Arts.[1]

Albums
  • Smile (2008)
  • Glass, Tavener, Nyman (2009)
  • Dusk & Dawn (2013)[6]
  • Catch Me If You Can (2013)
  • A Summer Place (2014)
  • Island Songs (2015)[7]
  • Glass (2017)
  • In Circles (2019)[8]

Awards

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
AIR Awards of 2013[9] Catch Me If You Can Best Independent Classical Album Won
AIR Awards of 2015[10] Island Songs Best Independent Classical Album Won
AIR Awards of 2020[11] In Circles Best Independent Classical Album Nominated

References
  1. Kate Molleson (2015-02-10). "Chart-topper Amy Dickson reclaims the joy of sax for classical fans". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  2. Adam Sweeting (2013-04-29). "Amy Dickson: Siren of seductive, late-night sax". Telegraph. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  3. https://www.taitmemorialtrust.org/awards-2006-2007/
  4. Adam Sherwin (2013-10-02). "Saxophone bursts into the Classic Brits with breakthrough win for Amy Dickson". The Independent. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  5. Adam Sherwin (2013-05-06). "Chart-topper Amy Dickson reclaims the joy of sax for classical fans". The Independent. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  6. "Dusk & Dawn (Amy Dickson)". The Australian. 2013-11-23. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  7. Erica Jeal (2016-01-21). "Amy Dickson: Island Songs CD review – an intriguing and serious collection". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
  8. "Amy Dickson: In Circles". Gramophone. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
  9. "Final AIR Awards 2013 Nominations Revealed, $50,000 Prize Announced". tonedeaf. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  10. "1 Dads, Courtney Barnett Lead This Year's Independent Music Award Nominations". MusicFeeds. 7 September 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  11. {cite web|url=https://scenestr.com.au/music/2020-air-awards-nominees-20200707%7Ctitle=2020 AIR Awards Nominees|website=scenestr|date=7 July 2020|accessdate=8 August 2020}}
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