Thomas Dickey

Dr. 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. He currently serves as Director of Orchestral Studies at Pacific Lutheran University, where he conducts the PLU Symphony Orchestra and leads the university’s orchestral program with a focus on mentorship, artistic excellence, and community engagement. Thomas’s conducting career has taken him around the world. He has led 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, Naples Philharmonic, and many others. Equally at home in the educational sphere, he has conducted all-state and honors orchestras in more than 35 U.S. states, inspiring young musicians with his enthusiasm and clarity on the podium.

A passionate advocate for musical excellence, Thomas 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. Critics have described his work as “dynamic and exciting” and praised his performances as being “imbued with aplomb, energy, and pathos.” Before arriving at PLU, Thomas held faculty and conducting appointments at Oklahoma State University, the University of Wisconsin–Platteville, and the University of Evansville, shaping the next generation of conductors and orchestral musicians. His academic journey began at Eastern Illinois University, continued with a master’s at Louisiana State University, and culminated in a Doctor of Musical Arts in orchestral conducting from the University of Georgia. Along the way, he has studied with renowned conductors including Jin Wang, Jorma Panula, Carl Topilow, Christopher Zimmerman, and Gustav Meier, and has refined his craft in masterclasses at institutions such as the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Prague Academy of Performing Arts, and the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Whether on the podium, in rehearsal, or working one-on-one with students, Thomas is guided by a core belief: that orchestral music is a powerful tool for expression, learning, and human connection.