SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento region is filled with passionate educators working to empower the next generation. Julian Dixon in Citrus Heights is one of them and he’s influencing students through music.
“The pendulum is swinging. The people have spoken, especially in Sacramento (saying) ‘we need arts in our schools,’” said Dixon.
He’s always been an enthusiastic teacher and his home is filled with mementos from throughout his musical career.
The Sacramento State music lecturer and principal tuba player for the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera has performed at some of the world’s greatest concert halls and has his share of quirky stories. But giving back to his community holds a special place in his heart.
“Music education does what other subject matter can’t do,” he said.
Dixon helped launch ‘Link Up,’ the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera’s long-running music education program.
“It brings music into the classroom and makes it accessible, not only for those children, but for the teacher as well,” he said.
It reaches thousands of third, fourth and fifth graders throughout Sacramento-area school districts each year.
“By training our listening, our hearing through music — you're developing your brain,” said Dixon.
He wants students of all backgrounds to experience that and being a product of public school, Dixon knows firsthand what exposure to music can mean.
“It informs who I am today because having that access and the continuous pipeline in junior high to high school and onto San Francisco State, I developed an appreciation for music,” he said.
The Link Up program and musicians like Dixon are part of the philharmonic’s growing success ahead of its 10th-anniversary celebrations kicking off later this year.
“We've reached 400,000 people collectively between education, orchestra, opera, partnerships, ballet, community engagement, and pop-up concerts. Just the fact that we can have that amount of impact in these last 10 years is really something cool,” said Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera executive director Giuliano Kornberg.
They hope to keep it going for years to come. The Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera’s next season will be announced soon with exciting surprises.
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