Our Conductor

The 2008-09 Season will be our fifth with Charles Dickerson as our Music Director and Conductor. Maestro Dickerson began his tenure as a last minute replacement for a concert in April 2004, and he was appointed as our permanent Music Director and Conductor shortly thereafter. Dickerson came to our podium after having served for eight years as Director of Music at Holman United Methodist Church. He currently also serves as Conductor of the Inner City Education Foundation Youth Orchestra, and as Music Director at Rolling Hills United Methodist Church.

Under Maestro Dickerson's guidance, the orchestra has renewed its commitment to its original purposes. Not only has The Southeast Symphony continues 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 composers of color can have their works performed. During Dickerson's tenure, the orchestra has performed the compositions of William Grant Still, Duke Ellington, Adolphus Hailstork, and other African-American composers, and Dickerson recently lead the orchestra in the West Coast Premiere of Patrice Rushen's seminal orchestral work in tribute to Dr. King - "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory". Under Dickerson's leadership, the orchestra has also 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, James Calhoun, organist at Second Baptist Church, and 17-year old pianist Nicholas King who recently performed Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the orchestra.

Dickerson 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.