Artistic Leadership
JOHN H. DICKSON, Artistic and Musical Director, is Professor Emeritus and former Director of Choral Studies at Louisiana State University. Recently retired after forty-four years of collegiate teaching, he continues his conducting through workshops, festivals, and as the founding artistic director of Coro Vocati, one of Atlanta’s most accomplished professional chamber choirs. As a conducting pedagogue, he has presented masterclasses before the Association of British Choral Directors, the American Choral Directors Association, the Royal Northern Music Conservatory (Manchester), and the Russian State Music Conservatories of St. Petersburg and Moscow. He has conducted festivals and workshops in England, Wales, Scotland, Finland, France, Italy, Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Canada, and throughout the U. S. For three decades his choirs have been featured at conventions of the ACDA, ABCD, Texas Music Educators Association, and the National Collegiate Choral Organization. A Visiting Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge University, Dr. Dickson sang with Sir David Willcocks and The Bach Choir; a second post-doctoral fellowship allowed him to serve as David Hill’s assistant conductor. He is the Founding Director of the Oxbridge C. S. Lewis Choral Institute.
DEBBIE DIERKS, Collaborative Artist, works with the Artistic and Musical Director in the preparation and performance of the season and accompanies the group in rehearsal and in concert. She has a wide and varied background in the Louisville musical world and beyond, including as lecturer, vocal coach and accompanist at the University of Louisville. She has been engaged with Youth Performing Arts School and various professional and semi-professional local music groups, most notably Voces Novae. She has performed with the Choral Arts Society, the former Bach Society, Metropolitan Opera auditions, Governor’s School for the Arts and NATS competitions. Professional recitalist and collaborator, Deborah has performed across the US and Europe. She is currently Music Director at Jeffersontown Christian Church. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and her graduate degree from the University of Louisville.