John H. Dickson

B.A., M.M., D.M.A.
Dean, Townsend School of Music

Prior to being named as dean at Mercer in June 2008, John Dickson was the director of Choral Studies and chair of the Conducting Division at Texas Tech University where he conducted the University Choir, Madrigal Singers and the Lubbock Chorale, and supervised the D.M.A., PhD., and M.M. programs in choral conducting.

Dr. Dickson continues an active career as conductor and guest clinician for numerous state, regional, and national American Choral Directors Association conventions, All-State choruses, and choral festivals around the world.  Internationally known as a conducting pedagogue, he has presented master-classes before the Association of British Choral Directors, the Russian State Music Conservatories of St. Petersburg and Moscow and workshops throughout England, Wales, Scotland, Finland, France, and Canada.  Appointed as a Visiting Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge University, Dr. Dickson sang with Sir David Willcocks and The Bach Choir in London. A second post-doctoral fellowship allowed him to serve as principal rehearsal conductor for The Bach Choir in Musical Director David Hill’s absence. Dr. Dickson is the founding director of the C. S. Lewis Foundation’s Oxbridge Choral Institute, a professional chorus serving the triennial symposium in Oxford and Cambridge. 

Recently appointed to the editorial board of The Choral Journal, he serves as editor of the monthly column for sacred music, “Hallelujah.” The Choral Journal and The Mastersinger have published his articles on a holistic approach to conducting.