The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-05-19
BY LESTER GRANGER
CONDENSED from Opportunity


A friend Of mine recently called
the Offices OF the National Broad
casting Corporation and asked the
Information Department for the
names OF some OF the outstanding
conductors who had led the NBC
Symphony orchestra in recent
years. The answer came back
readily that among the outstand-
ing leaders had been Toscanini,
Eugene Ormandy. Eugene Gous-
sons. Dean Dixon. Leopold Stokow-
ski, Frank Blsck-to name a few
That response given automatically
TO a telephoned inquiry empha-
sizes the rapid strides which Dean
Dixon. young Negro conductor has
made in the last five years into the
forefront of the symphony world.
The American Youth Orchestra
is a group Of 80 young musicians.
composed OF Negroes and whites
and a dozen nationality strains.
They were brought together by
Dixon and selected by him on their
merit alone. When shortly before
Christmas the new orchestra made
its debut at Carnegie Hall under
Mr.. Dixon's conduStorship. New
York's teen-agers came out in full
force. The average age Of the or
chestra was about 20 years, and.
as one critic commented, though
the performance was far from per-
feet. lit was amazing and gave
emphatic proof Of the dynamic
qualities, leadership gifts, and ar
tistic maturity OF the young con-
ductor." *
Behind that night at Carnegie
Hall, and behind Dixon's guest
appearances with the NBC SYM
phony, the New York Philhar-
monte, and the New York Cham
Der Orchestras, were ten years Of
hard work and study. loyal parent
al support, generous understanding
oy white friends, but most Of all,
the indomitable self-confidence
and courage on the part Of Dean
Dixon himself. His success in ar
irving on the present threshold Of
the orchestral hall Of fame is in
part due to Dixon's psinstaking
preparation, in part to a fortuitous
circumstances and in part TO the
imagination and sympathetic inter-
est Of the President Of the Ma
tionsl Broadcasting company,
David Sarnofi, now a Brigadier
General in the United States Army.
Dean Dixon is New York
product. born downtown on West
35th street on January 10. 1915. His
mother was herself lover OF
music and was determined that
her son would grow up with appre-
citation for fine music. She pro-
vided him with violin lessons
throughout his high school years
and at the Dewitt Clinton high
school he organized his own or.
chestra. Upon advice Of the head
Of his high school music depart
ment. he entered the Juilliard In
stitute Of Musical Art and -
ceived his BIS. degree In 1854 HI
pursued his studies at the JuilliarS
Graduate school and ut Columbis
University's Teachers college
earning his masters degree from
the latter institute in 1889.
Meanwhile. during the depres-
sion years. as early as 1882. he
conceived the idea OF forming his
own symphony society. for he had
developed an overwhelming anbi-
ton to become an orchestra con-
ductor. Since no orchestra was
available, Dean Dixon Organized
his own. Enthusiastically. it was
neither a Harlem nor a Negro or
chestra, but was composed Of the
young whites and Negroes with
whom he had been in contact
throughout his music studies. His
mother organized The Friends of
Dean Dixon" group that backed
the orchestra by raising money to
purchase instruments, promoting
concerts and increased audiences.
BY 1910. the Dean Dixon Orches-
ira" was we'll known. not only
in Upper Manhattan. but through
out the city as we'll. because OF
the enthusiasm Of his sponsors. and
their success in securing a favor
able press. =,
About this time. David Sarnoff
the head of RCA. became inter
ested in employment difficulties
suffered by Negroes. He was q
member Of Governor Lehman's
Committee on Discrimination in
Defense and he became aware OF
the fact that great corporations
generally excluded Negroes from
all but the lower job levels and
that his own corporation was nc
exception. While working 10 cor.
rect employment practices in some
Of the RCA plants. Mr.. Sarnof de-
cided to make q dramatic demon.
strstion on the highest level o.