Amy Dickson, saxophonist

'The music of composer-in-residence Peter Sculthorpe radiated its own fiery glow...Saxophonist Amy Dickson, in particular, did him proud, underlining the vibrancy of this rather remarkable event.' - Presteigne Festival, August 2007

The Guardian, 2007

'The brilliant young Australian saxophonist Amy Dickson was soloist in Richard Rodney Bennett's Seven Country Dances, her flowing phrasing drawing a striking range of tones and colours.

Amy Dickson's late-night concert demonstrated again how much this gifted player is at one with her instrument...After hearing her give the premiere of the saxophone version of his Songs of Sea and Sky, with its release into sweet lyricism, Peter Sculthorpe told me how the experience has inspired him to make it the basis of a complete concerto for her.

Much rougher and visceral was Mark-Anthony Turnage's Two Elegies Framing a Shout, Dickson and pianist Catherine Milledge heroically combining in this harrowing and taxing musical experience.'

Birmingham Post, 2007

“This was the most exciting saxophone recital I’ve heard in England for a very long time. All performed from memory with a degree of intensity, maturity and panache to satisfy any audience…”

“The Pequena Czarda by my amigo, Pedro Iturralde…I have sent him a copy of the programme, saying that this was the most passionate performance of it I’ve ever heard!”

Clarinet and Saxophone Magazine, 2003

‘Ms. Dickson negotiated leaps from one end of the instrument’s range to the other with aplomb. But nothing could prepare me for the rapid finger work that followed. Never have I heard someone play so many notes per second on the saxophone. And this wasn’t mindless jazz doodling. It was note perfect and thrilling. Mr. Sax couldn’t have asked for a better champion.’

‘An arrangement for saxophone and piano of Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise followed. I have heard this haunting work played on many instruments, but none has sounded more like the human voice than did the saxophone in this performance by Ms. Dickson.’

‘For many listeners, the mention of the saxophone conjures up memories of the vulgar blatty sounds often produced by pop and jazz musicians. But Ms. Dickson’s sound is a revelation. This was lyrical playing at its best, with beautiful tone color and sensitive phrasing.’

New York Concert Review, 2005

‘Standing on the stage of the Sydney Opera House in an elegant long blue dress, the alto saxophone gleaming in the light, she held many in the audience spellbound with the concerto’s soulful middle movement.’

The Australian, 2004

‘Amy’s performance was the most totally satisfying performance of the whole evening…she was a great performer’

Manly Daily (Sydney) 1998