Our Conductor
Charles Dickerson stepped in as a last minute replacement to conduct our orchestra for a concert in April 2004. He was appointed as our permanent Music Director and Conductor shortly thereafter, and he has occupied that position ever since!
Maestro Dickerson came to our podium after having served for eight years as Director of Music at Holman United Methodist Church. Currently, he also serves as Conductor of the Inner City Education Foundation Youth Orchestra, and as Music Director at Rolling Hills United Methodist Church. He succeeds a line of fine conductors who have led our orchestra, including Joseph Valenti, Louis Palange, William Grant Still, Leroy Hurte, Luther Henderson, Jr., Yvette Devereaux, and John Dennison.
Under Maestro Dickerson's guidance, the Orchestra has renewed its commitment to its original purposes. Not only does The Southeast Symphony continue to thrive as a place where African-American musicians can learn orchestral repertoire and ensemble performance, but the orchestra has also become a place where the works of composers of color are regularly performed. During Dickerson's tenure, the Orchestra has performed the compositions of William Grant Still, Adolphus Hailstork, and other contemporary African-American composers.
The Orchestra has also forged new ground in terms of both venues and music with Dickerson at the helm. The Southeast Symphony made its Walt Disney Concert Hall debut with a sold-out performance of the music of George Gershwin in July of 2008. The Orchestra returned to Disney Hall in July 2009 with a grand celebration of the music of Duke Ellington, performing the world premiere of Nancy Rene's "Ellington Duo", and the world premiere of Dickerson's own orchestration of selections from Ellington's Sacred Concerts entitled "A Suite from The Sacred Concerts". Maestro Dickerson also recently lead the Orchestra in the West Coast Premiere of Patrice Rushen's seminal orchestral work in tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory".
Under Dickerson's leadership, the Orchestra has showcased some of the most noted African-American musicians in Southern California, including Robert Watt - recently retired Assistant Principal Horn of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Barry Perkins - Principal Trumpet of the Pacific Symphony, and international acclaimed Pianist Althea Waites - who performed "Rhapsody in Blue" with the Orchestra in its July 2008 Disney Hall concert.
Dickerson has also opened the Orchestra as a forum to provide opportunities for the youth of the Los Angeles to expand their musical growth. Advanced students from the Southeast Symphony Conservatory and other schools have performed with the Orchestra under Dickerson's baton. In July 2009, 16-year olds Devyn Anderson-Stover and John Mills, percussionists from the View Park Preparatory High School, performed Bolero by Maurice Ravel with the Orchestra under Dickerson at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and in 2007 and 2008, teenage pianist Nicholas King performed Rachmaninoff's Second Piano Concerto and Beethoven's First Piano Concerto respectively with Dickerson and the Orchestra. In July 2010, Nicholas will make his Walt Disney Concert Hall debut with Dickerson and the Orchestra in a performance of Rachmaninoff's beloved Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, and a group of 15-20 advanced students from the Los Angeles community will perform along with the Orchestra during this presentation.