Sakari Dixon Vanderveer

Recently featured in the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra EarShot New Music Readings, Sakari Dixon Vanderveer (b. 1992) seeks to incorporate her collaborators’ unique artistry in each of her works. Her piano quintet Obsidian, rippled in moonlight, gleams and her string octet Fire Season, both written for Salastina, embody stark contrasts that convey her fascination with metamorphosis as a natural element of life. Described as “thrilling and powerful” (Journal of the American Viola Society), El príncipe sombrío y los recuerdos de su niñez remains a popular choice among violists. Her suite of unaccompanied works, Bagatelles for Strings, was commissioned for the 36th Annual Irving M. Klein International String Competition, where it premiered on The Violin Channel. Other recent premieres include commissions for Derek Bermel, HOCKET, and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra.

A University of Redlands alum, Vanderveer studied with violist Kira Blumberg and composer Anthony Suter. Additional mentors include violist Mark Braunstein and composers Reena Esmail, Derrick Skye, Saad Haddad, and Gabriela Lena Frank. Vanderveer thrives on close collaboration with others; her fellowships in the Third Coast Percussion Creative Currents Partnership, the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music, the Composers Conference, and JACK Studio have inspired many of her recent works for chamber ensembles.

As a New Music USA Program Council member and a Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Composer Teaching Artist Fellow, Vanderveer’s desire to empower youth catalyzes much of her work. In fact, she founded the You(th) Can Compose! Summer Workshop, a personalized, online program for beginners. She currently mentors young students in her private studio as well as at the Arts Connection of San Bernardino County, where she instructs composition classes for afterschool programs.

Her recent works for MUSICA! (El Sistema USA), the San Bernardino County Music Educators Association, Heritage Intermediate School, and the Portland Youth Philharmonic exemplify her desire to nurture artistic relationships with virtuosi and novices alike. She aspires to give children from all backgrounds access to contemporary music and composition in hopes that they may develop a better appreciation of both new and old concert music, cherish it, and engage with it throughout their lives.

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***Please do not edit or modify this biography without written permission.***

Click here for a Google Doc of this bio including shortened versions and one intended for young audiences.

Style Notes:

Sakari’s pronouns are she/her.

When referring to Sakari in print or in speech, Sakari Dixon Vanderveer is preferred; Sakari Vanderveer is acceptable.*

Ms. or Mrs. may be used as honorific titles. When using Sakari’s surname alone or with an honorific title, she is to be referred to as Vanderveer and not Dixon Vanderveer.

*Yes, my domain name and social media handles are still “Sakari Dixon.” I’d rather spend more time composing than wrestling with technology for now. 😉 – Sakari