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About Fostina

TOURING ARTIST, INSTRUMENTALIST, VOCALIST,
COMPOSER, ARRANGER, EDUCATOR

Fostina Dixon is a composer, vocalist and jazz soloist who plays soprano, alto and baritone saxes; flute; and clarinet. Ms. Dixon has been guest soloist with Abbey Lincoln, Barry Harris, Earl May and the Big Apple Jazzwomen. She has also played with Gil Evans, Roy Ayers, Tom Browne, Charlie Persip, Melba Liston, Cab Calloway, Slide Hampton, Frank Foster, Joe Williams, Nancy Wilson, Bobby Vinton, Sammy Davis, Jr., Prince, and Marvin Gaye, with whom she toured for four years. She was a member of the Gerald Wilson, Jimmy Cleveland and Leslie Drayton big bands.

Fostina Dixon is a native of Wilmington, Delaware where she studied with the late Robert "Boysie" Lowery. As a young woodwind instrumentalist, she played for the Delaware All-State Band and was selected for the American Young Symphonic Orchestra which toured Europe. She went on to study with such great musicians as Frank Foster, Buddy Collette, Vic Morosco, Joe Viola, Andy McGhee and William Bowie.

As a professional musician, she has performed at numerous clubs, colleges, libraries, churches, community art centers, New York's Jazzmobile concert series, theaters and toured abroad. In 2019 Ms. Dixon and group “Winds of Change” were recipients of a grant from the South Arts Road Jazz Tour. Other performances in 2019 include the Medgar Evers College Jazz Series, Delaware State University, Clements Place presented by the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University, Harlem Jazz Series, Twins Jazz Club in D.C., Warmdaddy’s in Philadelphia, Sista’s Place in Brooklyn New York, the 75 Club and Restaurant in NYC and the list goes on. Fostina Dixon & Winds of Change has appeared at the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival, New York's Annual Afrikan Street Carnival, the Annual New York Women's Jazz Festival, the Annual Black Women's History Conference, the Kool Jazz Festival, Greenwich Village Jazz Festival, and the Annual Jackie Robinson Festival in Norwalk, CT. Fostina has also toured Germany, Austria, Italy, Belgium, France and the Netherlands several times.

“The primary thing Fostina projects through her playing is Power…the power of soul, the power of being whole…it’s all there.”

— Dick Metcalf, Contemporary Fusion

Ms. Dixon has worked with and made television appearances on shows such as the popular "NY Undercover Cop" series, WNYC Channel 31s "Perspective in Jazz," NBCs "Today in New York" with Dr. Billy Taylor and a special TV presentation "Salute to Bobby Vinton." Fostina's extensive career has carried her into theatrical performances of the Musical Theatre Works production of "All Girl Band" and Playwrights Horizon production of "Jazz is a Lady." She has performed at the Women's International Film Festival in New York City and "Sisterfire," a festival in celebration of women artists sponsored by the Flamboyant Ladies Theatre Company.

Fostina Dixon founded the Wilmington Youth Jazz Band in 2004. The Wilmington Youth Jazz Band (www.wyjb.org), is a non-profit organization for youth.

Fostina received a Christi Award for her contributions to promoting the arts in the community, an Outstanding Arts Educator award from the Delaware Board of Education, and an Outstanding Contributor award from the Council of Jazz Advocates for her work as an arts educator and the Founder and longtime Executive Director of the Wilmington Youth Jazz Band.

“She is a player of impeccable control and skills with highly independent ideas.”

— American Women in Jazz

Performance Highlights

“Dixon adeptly showcases her virtuosic flair juxtaposing melody and improvisation.”

— All About Jazz

“I believe Fostina Dixon will truly take her place among the stars of the Jazz world.”

— Lloyd Z. Remick, Esq, Zane Management

Awards

Delaware Division of the Arts Recipient for Established Professional Jazz Composition 2021
2019 Recipient of South Arts Road Jazz Tour
Delaware Division of the Arts Recipient for Established Professional Jazz Composition 2012
Recipient of Christi Awards, 2009
Honored by Christina School District as Outstanding Arts Educator, 2009
Master's in Educational Leadership, 2008 Wilmington University
Featured in book Black Women and Music
Founded the Wilmington Youth Jazz Band in 2004