Christopher graduated from the Royal Conservatory of Music, with an ARCT in Composition and has an Licentiate from Trinity College of Music, UK, in guitar performance. He studied guitar at Manhattan School of Music with Nicholas Goluses, composition at the Juilliard School with Conrad Cummings and Conducting with Michael Adelson and Peter Bellino, at the Mannes School. Christopher has a double Masters in guitar performance and composition from Hunter College – CUNY, where his guitar professor was Seth Himmelhoch and Composition professor Shaffer Mahoney, and a Masters of Science in Music Education from Queens College - CUNY. Prior to this he studied with Philip Candelaria in Sudbury and Robert Hamilton at the RCM. He also holds a BA from Laurentian University.
Christopher’s works include Three Movements for Wind Quintet and Guitar and Moderato for String Quartet, Sauntering, composed for the Cambrian College Wind Ensemble and Overture for Orchestra. Other works include Twelve Pieces for Solo Guitar, Sonatina for Guitar, Three Concert Vocaleses and Three Poems by William Carlos Williams for Mezzo Soprano. He has composed for the theatre where one such production, The Dreamer Examines his Pillow, at the Taragon Theatre, the Globe and Mail Review said:
“Christopher Dickson’s original music was clever and evocative.”
Christopher is a member of concrete timbre, a professional composer-driven collective where one production, Dziewczyna, was performed at the Consulate General of Poland in New York.
An active Conductor/Educator, he is on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Band Association and is a supporter of community bands; often guest conducting for Community groups.
As a Classical Guitar Performer, Christopher was the Recipient of the Artist International Carnegie Hall Debut award and performed on Oct. 13, 2007 at Carnegie Hall.