Sakari Dixon Vanderveer

Sakari Dixon Vanderveer’s compositions are primarily inspired by a desire to write music for those around her. While earning her BM in Composition at the University of Redlands, Sakari’s relationships with her colleagues developed into commissions from Spencer Baldwin, Kelsey Broersma, and years later, the PHAZE Ensemble. Her studies with Kira Blumberg and Anthony Suter enabled her to engage with the music community not just as a composer and performer but also an advocate for contemporary music.     In recent years, Sakari has continued to study primarily with Reena Esmail. Named a Sounds Promising Young Composer of the Salastina Music Society for the 2018-2019 season, Sakari composed the piano quintet “Obsidian, rippled in moonlight, gleams” for their annual Sounds Local program under the mentorship of Derrick Spiva, Jr. Additionally, Salastina has commissioned her to write for their Sounds Festive: The Four Seasons x 2 program in December 2019.     As a teacher of orchestral strings, working with youth also remains a driving inspiration behind much of her work. In May 2019, “The Enigma of the Twilight Stallion” was premiered by MÚSICA!, an El Sistema program in San Jacinto, CA. This multi-level orchestral piece will receive its European premiere by El Sistema Greece in 2020. Sakari’s desire is that giving children from all walks of life access to contemporary music and composition will provide them with a better appreciation and understanding of concert music – new and old – so that they can cherish it and engage in it throughout their lives.