Composer Profile

Michael Hugh Dixon

(1961–)

Hometown: Palmerston North (New Zealand)

Living in: Sydney, New South Wales

Born in New Zealand in 1961, Michael learnt piano with his grandmother, and horn and composition with his father. Michael has held full-time playing positions with a number of Australian orchestras, including Principal Horn in the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra. He is now a regular with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra playing natural horn, and the Opera Australia Orchestra. Chamber music credits include his ensemble LOCANA, Omega Ensemble, and Notos Woodwind Quintet. Teaching is an important part of his work: he teaches at schools in Sydney including Inaburra School, St George Girls’ High School, and Caringbah High School. In 2011, he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Creative Arts from the University of Wollongong. His other degrees are an MPhil in composition from the University of Queensland, and an MMus in Musicology from Griffith University. Composition is a significant part of his musical life: many of his works are in extended just intonation and are published by Wirripang Pty Ltd. Since 2017, he has been co-curating Sydney MicroFest, an annual event of microtonal music. Michael has a blog exploring brass instruments, harmonics, and just intonation, and builds resources for beginner French horn students.

Horn Ensemble Works

AmoghasiddhiAmoghasiddhi19999 horns (solo horn and 8 horns)
ArapacanaArapacana20212 horns
Fanfare IFanfare I19944 horns
Fanfares
Fanfares
I. Fanfare III
II. Diamond Fanfare (Fanfare IV)
2021/20224 horns
Five and SevenFive and Seven20215 horns (solo horn and 4 live or pre-recorded horns)
Heart to Heart, Mind to MindHeart to Heart, Mind to Mind20186 horns
Of FearlessnessOf Fearlessness20219 horns
Our DaysOur Days20176 horns
Silver Art UpstreamSilver Art Upstream20166 horns
This InstantThis Instant20164 horns
This Need Not BeThis Need Not Be20117 horns
VisualisationVisualisation1998/19994 horns
We Are SufficientWe Are Sufficient20064 horns
When I RoamWhen I Roam2000 rev. 202010 horns and 4 optional trombones (2 tenor and 2 bass)