Julian C. Dixon can best be described as a “Citizen Artist, an artist who recognizes the essential role of the arts and of artists in society” (Juilliard).

A native of San Francisco, Mr. Dixon has an infectious passion and shares his many talents as a professional tuba player, an engaging educator and teaching artist, an arts administrator, and an arts advocate. Most recently, Julian Dixon is also a co-founder with Benwar Shepard of “Melanated Creative,” a performing arts consultantship with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusivity, and access to the arts in the community.

Julian Dixon’s professional lineage began at San Francisco State University with Floyd Cooley (San Francisco Symphony) and Zachariah Spellman (San Francisco Opera) and continued with J. Samuel Pilafian and the Empire Brass Quintet at Boston University for his graduate studies. He has performed with a variety of groups, from brass quintets to symphonic orchestras, playing a wide range of musical styles from contemporary to Klezmer. His performing has taken him across all of North America and overseas to Japan and Finland, including such notable venues as Tokyo Disneyland, Cleveland’s Severance Hall, and the great stages at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

A distinguished chamber musician, Julian Dixon garnered top awards in 1988 at the “Coleman,” “Shoreline Alliance,” and “Summit Brass First International” Chamber Music competitions as an original member of the Atlantic Brass Quintet. His love for chamber brass music also led him to be a founding member of the Farallon Brass Ensemble of Berkeley, CA, and the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera Brass Quintet.

Mr. Dixon has performed with many symphonic orchestras of Northern California. Presently, he is the Principal Tuba of the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra, as well as the merged Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera.

Mr. Dixon has always been an enthusiastic educator. His commitment brought wide-reaching, impactful educational programming to the Sacramento Region during his ten-and-a-half-year tenure as Sr. Director of Community Engagement and Education for the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, all while concurrently serving as Principal Tuba.

Julian Dixon has been a faculty member of the California State University, Sacramento, School of Music (SOM) since 2000. A pillar in the School of Music, Mr. Dixon teaches the Applied Tuba/Euphonium studio, Chamber Brass classes, the SOM First Year Experience Seminar, and is the Brass Area Faculty Coordinator.

Recognized for his wide-reaching work in the Sacramento region, Julian C. Dixon was awarded the “2021 Sacramento Kings Crown Royal Culture Creator Award for Commitment to Community.” He is presently establishing the Sacramento Regional Chapter of the International Tuba Euphonium Association.