Amy Dickson

Amy Dickson is a saxophonist from Sydney, Australia, born in 1982. She begins lessons at the age of six and makes her concerto debut at 16, performing the Dubois Concerto with Henryk Pisarek and the Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra.

Training and early career

After her early concerto debut, Dickson receives the James Fairfax Australian Young Artist of the Year award. On her 18th birthday she records Dubois’ Divertissement with John Harding and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. The following year she moves to London to study on the Jane Melber Scholarship at the Royal College of Music with Kyle Horch, and also studies at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam with Arno Bornkamp.

During this period she becomes the first saxophonist to win major competitions including the Gold Medal at the Royal Overseas League Competition, the Symphony Australia Young Performer of the Year Competition, and the Prince’s Prize.

Performance work

Dickson performs widely in Europe, Africa and Australasia, in venues including Wigmore Hall and the Sydney Opera House. She appears as a soloist with orchestras around the world, including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Vienna Chamber Orchestra. Other appearances include the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at the Teatru Manoel in Valletta, Malta, as well as performances at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, St James’ Palace in London, and for former Australian prime minister John Howard at Parliament House in Canberra.

She is also active as a recitalist, working with pianists Catherine Milledge and Martin Cousin in venues such as Wigmore Hall and the Bridgewater Hall, as well as at festivals around the world.

Recordings and repertoire

Dickson records for Sony Music and has released recordings on the RCA Red Seal label. Her recording Smile is released in 2008. Her second album, Glass, Tavener, Nyman, includes Philip Glass’s Violin Concerto and John Tavener’s The Protecting Veil, both arranged by Dickson, along with Michael Nyman’s Where the Bee Dances.

She also records Cecilia McDowall’s concerto Dancing Fish, Larsson’s Konzert and Dubois’ Divertissment, and appears on Bollywood composer Mithoon Sharma’s album Tu Hi Mere Rab Ki Tarah Hai.

New music and arrangements

Dickson is committed to expanding the saxophone repertoire through commissions and arrangements. Composers who write for her include Graham Fitkin, Steve Martland, Huw Watkins, Martin Butler, Michael Csanyi-Wills, Cecilia McDowall and Timothy Salter. A concerto by Ross Edwards is commissioned by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for her. In 2008 she gives the first performance of Philip Glass’s Violin Concerto in an arrangement for soprano saxophone with Otto Tausk and the Auckland Philharmonia, followed by performances with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Her arrangement is published by Chester Novello.

Other roles

Dickson is an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, a Selmer Paris Performing Artist, and is endorsed by REN skincare. She is also dressed by Armani.