As a public school student in San Bernardino, CA, Sakari Dixon Vanderveer’s interest in composition grew when her sixth grade orchestra teacher assigned a group project combining student compositions with their original artwork. After that, Sakari continued to compose music for herself and her close friends through high school. While studying composition with Dr. Anthony Suter at the University of Redlands, Sakari’s collaborations lead to commissions from instrumentalists such as Kelsey Broersma and Spencer Baldwin.
Currently, Sakari promotes contemporary music through her involvement in ensembles such as the Redlands Community Orchestra, which regularly premieres works by local composers. She was also a violist in the Inland Empire Composers’ Concert Series which completed its first season in April 2017.
As a musician in the Inland Empire, Sakari continues to perform and compose while sharing with her students the beauty of creating music. She currently studies composition with Reena Esmail.
Photography by William Vasta, 2014
Articles by Sakari Dixon Vanderveer:
After I plunged right into a 9-to-5 position, I began to contemplate what it would look like to create a routine that would facilitate the continuation of my education in...
As a composer, I’ve realized that perfectionism is encouraged frequently to some extent and with good reason. Precise notation minimizes uncertainty for performers and makes rehearsals more efficient. But don't...
Since I was convinced that I wanted to focus on freelance composing and performing when I graduated, I didn’t thoughtfully consider the possibility of teaching as an integral aspect of...
Joining the Redlands Community Orchestra meant that I could get to know not just music but also people over a long period of time. Since I wanted to learn how...