Resume - BRIAN DIX

With legendary film composer John Williams at the Kennedy Center in 2003.

Major Brian Dix, United States Marine Corps, retired led a brilliant military career as a conductor and composer spanning over 30 years of dedicated service. As Director Laureate of the highly beloved U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps, “The Commandant’s Own” from Washington D.C., his distinguished leadership elevated this ensemble’s musical prowess that was witnessed by millions of people during concerts, performances and ceremonies throughout the United States, its territories, plus four continents.

Brian DIx Composer — Major Brian Dix conducts “The Commandant’s Own” during one of the many evening parades at historic Marine Barracks, Washington DC in 2012. (Photo by SSgt Oscar Olive.)

HRH Edinburgh 2002 - Brian Dix Conductor Marine Corps — On August 5, 2002, Chief Warrant Officer-2 Brian Dix is introduced to HRH Queen Elizabeth II following a Command Performance for her 50th Golden Jubilee at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Edinburgh Castle in Scotland.

During his tenure, Brian led musical presentations for world leaders, dignitaries, heads of state and marched within every local community along the way. This included World War Memorials on the island of Iwo Jima and Belleau Wood France, the Norwegian Military Tattoo, Oslo, the USS Intrepid dedication in NYC, individual productions for the Kennedy Center Honors along with live broadcasts for PBS, CBS, NBC Fox News and Armed Forces Radio & Television.

Other noteworthy events include The Great State Fair of Texas along with marching presentations for Drum Corps International, Drum Corps Associates and Bands of America. He was distinguished amongst his peers for being selected to command performances for HRH Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland and the Sultan of Oman’s Anniversary Celebration in Muscat. These are amongst some 7500 concerts, ceremonies and performances to his name as Director with over 10,000 events as an overall musical performer.

The Marine Drum & Bugle Corps is a highlight for visitors to our nations capitol during their annual “Summer Parade Season” at the Marine Corps War Memorial, Arlington VA and historic Marine Barracks, “8th & I” in DC. Brian’s arrangement of Beethoven’s Finale to Symphony No 9, “Ode To Joy” with synchronized cannon fire has been a favorite of the Marine Corps, their honored guests and visitors since 2003.

Ode to Joy — CWO-2 Brian Dix conducting his personal orchestration of *‘Ode To Joy’* with synchronized cannon fire during an Evening Parade honoring the Secretary of the Navy at historic Marine Barracks Washington DC in August 2004.

Greeting President George W. Bush at the American Embassy, Paris France in 2001.

Being recognized in the performing arts for his original musical acumen, Brian marched this famed drum and bugle corps to the stage of David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center to conduct two concert series with the New York Philharmonic in 2011 & 2014.

Raised in New Jersey with formative years in New York, Major Dix is proud to have studied music and the performing arts entirely through public education. While earning a bachelor’s degree in music education from Mansfield University, PA in 1982, he was mentored by Richard N. Talbot and Dr. Charles Wunderlich. During active duty he studied with Anthony Maiello, completing a Master of Music degree in conducting from George Mason University, VA in 1996.

State Fair of Texas 2013 — Eternally proud of his marching pedigree, Major Dix is parading with the U.S Marine Drum & Bugle Corps down the classic ‘Midway’ at the Great State Fair of Texas.

POTUS and Brian Dix — With President Barack Obama during the Evening Parade at Marine Barracks Washington DC in July 2010. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jacob H. Harrer)

Major Dix enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1983, graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, completed the Armed Forces School of Music with honors then reported to Washington D.C. for duty as a contra-bass bugler. Following the retirement of legendary Marine Colonel Truman W. Crawford, Brian was appointed to the rank of Warrant Officer in 1998 and following his completion of The Basic School, assumed duties as director of “The Commandant’s Own.” On February 2, 2010, following a Presidential appointment to the rank of Major — the first of its kind in the armed forces — Major Dix assumed full command of The United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps.

As the fourth director since its inception in 1934, Major Dix expanded the Corps’ extensive repertoire with over 150 personal compositions and orchestrations honoring American heroes that have been enjoyed by audience’s worldwide. Several of these works, Reveille, Tour of Duty and Chester, A March were performed at Lincoln Center with the NY Philharmonic. Two specific selections were orchestrated joining both ensembles; Birth of a Drum Corps, conducted by Bramwell Tovey along with Ellis Island, conducted by Brian, marking the first performances of an original drum and bugle corps composition transcribed for a major symphony orchestra.

Bramwell Tovey conducts New York Philharmonic in Summer Classics series at Avery Fisher Hall, 7/5/11. Photo by Chris Lee — Brian is conducting the first of several appearances with the New York Philharmonic during the Summer Classics series at Avery Fisher Hall in July 2011. (Photo by Chris Lee)

Force Master Chief Laura Martinez with Surgeon General Vice Admiral Adam Robinson Jr. administer the oath to CWO-4 Brian Dix as an Honorary US Navy Hospital Corpsman in September 2009. He is the only Marine to have earned this honor.

Amongst Major Dix’s military awards including the Legion of Merit, Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal and Achievement Medal with Gold Star for Heroic Achievement. Brian was sworn in as an “Honorary Navy Hospital Corpsman” by the Surgeon General of the Navy in recognition of his service to Naval Medicine through organizing blood drives and the admiration of Brian’s march, Corpsman Up. A march dedicated to the brave Navy ‘Docs’ who keep Marines the “first to fight.” Major Dix is the only U.S. Marine that has been bestowed this honor.

This anthem was so beloved, by the Oak Leaf Society at Bethesda, MD; a portrait in honor of this anthem hangs proudly in the “Hall of Heroes” at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda.

Honoring wounded soldiers as they arrive for the official dedication of the Center for the Intrepid at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX in 2007. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Job Well-Done with dear friend Maestro Bramwell Tovey, the NY Philharmonic and “The Commandant’s Own” in 2011.

Recently, Corpsman Up was transcribed for orchestra and debuted this past spring by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, British Columbia, CA, conducted by Bramwell Tovey.

Major Dix was named to Mansfield University’s Society of Honors as the Outstanding Young Alumni Award and was named to the music departments “Wall of Honor” in 2014. “The Major Brian Dix Instrumental Music Scholarship” was established to full- time students who are Veterans or children of Veterans that have made formal commitments to the field of Instrumental Music or Music Education.

Major Dix is an active member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers; the Conductors’ Guild; the Society of Composers and Lyricists; Veterans in Film & Television and Media; and the Association of California Symphony Orchestras along with local veterans and community organizations.

Brian Dix, Composer - Conductor — Brian Dix, Marine Veteran – Conductor & Composer

He is in demand as an arranger and guest conductor, and recently served as the L.A. Sports Network’s commentator at Drum Corps International, Pasadena. He is also a guest writer for the San Diego Union- Tribune and a guest commentator with C-SPAN.

Major Brian Dix currently resides in the historic South Park neighborhood of San Diego with his husband Mr. Paul Andrews.