Emma Dixon gained her undergraduate and Master’s degrees in cello performance from the Royal Northern College of Music and has performed throughout the UK as a chamber and orchestral musician on modern and baroque cello. It was at the RNCM that Emma first encountered the Dalcroze Method, and she has been fascinated by it ever since.
Emma holds professional qualifications in both Dalcroze and Kodaly music education methods and is currently a candidate on the International Dalcroze Licence. She works across the UK as a musicianship teacher and workshop leader with young musicians, music professionals and teachers for organisations including Dark Peak Music Foundation, Chetham’s School of Music, Manchester Camerata, Yorkshire Young Musicians, Derbyshire Music Education Hub, the Chetham’s International Piano Summer School and Dalcroze UK, and is delighted to be working with the National Youth String Orchestra in 2024.
As Director of Strings and Early Music Education for Dark Peak Music Foundation in her Derbyshire hometown, she has grown and developed three thriving ensembles for young strings players. Emma is passionate about removing barriers to excellent musical experiences and established the Dark Peak Young Voices Choir and Supertonics musicianship classes in her community to provide even more children access to outstanding musical experiences.
Emma is proud to be the Education and Outreach Manager for Carrot Productions and The Carrot Trust, developing access to exceptional live music experiences for all, with a focus on removing access barriers for children, young people and adults with special needs and designing holistic, interactive live music performance programmes.
Emma is an artistic director of the Glossop Music Festival and has developed and delivered a regular summer music programme for local primary schools with the Festival which reaches around 500 pupils each year.
She is a dedicated cello teacher, working with young cellists from the very beginnings through to advanced level in local schools and privately. She has taught cello and coached string chamber music in many varied settings over the years including the RNCM Junior Department and Young Strings Project, Yorkshire Young Musicians and Pro Corda North, for Music Education Hubs and in mainstream and private schools. She is a cello section coach for the Derbyshire County youth ensembles and works with Derbyshire Music Education Hub leadership to support the CPD of instrumental teachers throughout the county.
Emma lives in Glossop with her husband and three lively children.