Dr. Marion K R Dickson

Marion Russell Dickson is nationally known for her beautiful, clear, and florid light-lyric soprano, with which she combines her joy for life and love during performances. Opera News noted Dr. Marion Russell Dickson as one of four standout performers as “Patience,” from the operetta by Gilbert and Sullivan of the same name, noting: “Marion Russell’s clarion Patience,” in Eastman Opera Theatre’s production. As a 2009 Guest Artist with New York City-based Distinguished Concerts International, New York, Dr. Dickson had the thrilling experience of giving her Carnegie Hall Recital Debut. Marion Dickson won the First Place Helen Boatwright Award Recipient of the Civic Morning Musical Competition held in Syracuse, New York, and performances as a soloist across the country include locations such as Houston, Texas, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Rochester, New York, Charleston, West Virginia, Princeton, New Jersey, and New York City.

Dr. Dickson enjoys performing soloist works in oratorios, operas, and recital settings. Her experiences as a concert soloist include Boccherini’s Se d’ un amor tiranno, G 557, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Haydn’s The Creation, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Bach’s Cantata Wachet Auf, BWV 140, Mozart’s Requiem, Mozart’s Missa Brevis, Handel’s Messiah, DuBois’ The Seven Last Words of Christ, and Mozart’s Vesperare solennes de confessore. One of Houston’s newest orchestras, the Houston Latin Philharmonic Orchestra, under Dr. Glenn Garrido, invited Marion Dickson to perform as a soloist with them on their inaugural concert in May of 2013. She also performed on Houston Public Radio Station’s The Front Row with St. John Flynn, singing a composition written for her by Houston composer Dr. Reynaldo Ochoa.

Recently named as a Fellow for the University of Houston Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts, Marion Dickson is a graduate of the esteemed Moores School of Music at the University of Houston, having received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Voice Performance, Pedagogy and Voice Science in 2014. Under Professor Buck Ross, Marion recently performed in two operas that won first place with the National Opera Association, including the leading role of “Lusya” in Moores Opera Theatre’s production of Shostakovich’s Moscow, Cheryomushki, and the supporting roles of “Trang,” and “Nurse,” in the second-ever production of Daron Hagen’s Amelia, with the latter conducted by Dr. Brett Mitchell. Marion Dickson was the Soprano I soloist in Mozart’s oratorio Davide Pentitente under the direction of Dr. Charles Hausmann. Her final recital at Moores featured a performance of early music, including Air de cours with lutanist Bruce Brogdon, and a modern world premiere of Friedrich Zachow’s cantata, Confitebor Tibi Domine, TV 2(a), under the direction of Dr. Hyeok Lee, a Zachow scholar.

Marion Dickson holds a Master of Music Degree in Performance and Literature and a Performer’s Certificate from Eastman School of Music, and she received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Voice Performance from Westminster Choir College. As part of ongoing study and performance opportunities, Ms. Dickson has had the joy of performing in Master Classes for artists including Cynthia Clayton, Tim Jones, Hector Vasquez, Zehava Gal, Carol Webber, Joyce Farwell, and John Wustman; coaches include Dalton Baldwin, Brian Suits, Tom Jaber, Russell Miller, John Greer, and Benton Hess.

Having taught collegiately for over fifteen years, Dr. Dickson’s responsibilities have included Studio Voice, Diction, Master Classes, Opera Workshop, and Art Song Literature. Collegiate positions at universities include the University of St. Thomas, in the Arts District of Houston, Sam Houston State University, Lone Star College-Kingwood, and Lone Star College-Montgomery, Houghton College in Houghton, New York, Nazareth College in Rochester, New York, and Eastman School of Music (Graduate Assistant).

Dr. Dickson’s students have participated in Young Artist Programs such as Opera in the Ozarks and the American Institute of Musical Studies in Gratz, Austria. Dr. Dickson’s students also participate and have won both Chapter and Texoma Regional NATS Auditions, as well as the Classical Singer Competition, with one student making it to the semi-final round in New York City. Dr. Dickson’s students have been accepted to graduate programs in Voice Performance, with significant scholarship, at the CollegeConservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati (CCM) and New England Conservatory; and others have gone to Baylor University and the University of St. Thomas as undergraduate students with full scholarships. One of her former students from the University of St. Thomas, Kechi, was a finalist on America’s Got Talent, and earned the “Golden Buzzer,” from Simon Cowell on the January 28 edition of “America’s Got Talent: The Champions.”  

Marion Dickson performs avidly in the Houston area and continues to maintain a select private studio. Dr. Dickson recently received a prestigious award from the National Association of Teacher of Singing, as she was one of seven in the United States who was named as a 2014 NATS Emerging Leader. She has been a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing since 2001 and recently served a three-year term as South Texas District Governor of NATS.