Charles (Chuck) Dickerson is a conductor and composer of orchestral and choral music. He currently serves as Executive Director and Conductor of the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles and South Side Chicago Youth Orchestra, Director of Music at Rolling Hills United Methodist Church (Rolling Hills Estates, California), Director of the Leo Baeck Temple Chorus (Los Angeles, California) for High Holiday services, and as Director of Special Ensembles at California State University, Dominguez Hills.
Over his 40 plus years of conducting, Chuck has directed performances of many of the greatest orchestral and choral works throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. A vocalist himself, Chuck has prepared choruses for concerts with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestras including the Phil’s 2012 performance of the Mahler Eighth Symphony and performances of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Maestro Gustavo Dudamel conducting.
Chuck also holds important compositional and arranging credits. His best-known work is “I Have A Dream,” a choral and orchestral setting of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s landmark speech. The work was performed for the unveiling ceremonies of the King Memorial on the National Mall in Washington DC, and at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles for Los Angeles County’s official celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the speech. He has also arranged and conducted orchestral performances of the music of Duke Ellington, Stevie Wonder, Motown and others.
Chuck holds a Master of Music Degree with a focus on conducting from California State University, Los Angeles, and degrees from Howard University (B.S.) and American University (J.D.). He has studied with esteemed Conductors Gustav Meier, Daniel Lewis, and Kenneth Kiesler. Chuck formerly served as Music Director and Conductor of the Southeast Symphony (2004-2011). He has held important public and civic leadership positions in Washington DC and Los Angeles.
Chuck is married, has two adult children, is a proud grandfather, and is an avid baseball fan.
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Chuck’s setting of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s landmark “I Have a Dream” speech for chorus with either piano or orchestra accompaniment is quickly becoming the standard music performed for King Day celebrations and other civic occasions. Please review information about this piece and listen to samples on the “listen” page. Full recordings of the piece (featuring a narration by Keith David) and vocal, piano and orchestra scores are available for your acquisition. Please visit the purchase page to place an order. Please be in touch with any questions.