Thomas Taylor
Dickey

Biography

Thomas Taylor Dickey is a conductor and educator whose work is marked by energy, musical depth, and a deep commitment to connecting people through orchestral music. His conducting career has taken him around the world, leading performances with professional orchestras across North America, Europe, and Asia — including the Bucharest Symphony, Shenyang Symphony, Danube Symphony Orchestra, Belgrade Chamber Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Tulsa Symphony, and Naples Philharmonic.

Equally at home in the educational sphere, Dickey has conducted all-state and honors orchestras in more than 35 US states, inspiring young musicians with his enthusiasm and clarity on the podium. A passionate advocate for musical excellence, he has been recognized with several international awards, including the Gold Prize at the 2022 World Classical Music Awards and Second Prize at the 2019 Mozart & Tchaikovsky International Conducting Competition.

Dickey has held faculty and conducting appointments at several universities in the Midwest, South, and Pacific Northwest, shaping the next generation of conductors and orchestral musicians. His academic journey began at Eastern Illinois University, continued with a master’s at LSU, and culminated in a DMA in orchestral conducting from the University of Georgia.

A published scholar as well as a performer, Dickey’s chapter “Cracking Open the Conducting Closet: Shared Experiences Among Queer Conductors” appears in the Routledge volume Perspectives on Conducting. He has also been named a National Finalist for the Ernst Bacon Memorial Award.

Whether on the podium, in rehearsal, or working one-on-one with students, Dickey is guided by a core belief: that orchestral music is a powerful tool for expression, learning, and human connection.