Bio
Dax Anthony Stokes is a conductor in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex area, with over 22 years of experience conducting orchestral concerts, musical theater and opera productions, and sacred choral music. He is also active as a teacher at the college and amateur levels, leading courses in Music Appreciation, Sacred Music, and Conducting to students all over the world. He has been the Music Director of the Chamber Orchestra of Denton, as well as the St. Kassiani Chorale. Currently, he is completing doctoral coursework in Orchestral Conducting at the University of North Texas.
CONDUCTING RESUME
EDUCATION
MSLS, University of North Texas (May 2007)
DMA Coursework, University of North Texas, (2002-2003); Orchestral and Opera Conducting
MM, University of North Texas (December 2001): Euphonium Performance and Opera Conducting
BM, University of Tennessee (May 2000): Euphonium Performance
MASTER CLASSES
Conducting Participant, Vladimir Gorbik Choral Master Class, Howell, NJ, October 2019
Conducting Participant, Peter Jermihov Choral Conducting Master Class, Waymart, PA, May 2019
Conducting Participant, Vladimir Gorbik Orchestral Conducting Studio Class, Moscow State Conservatory, Russia, September 2015
Conducting Participant, Vladimir Gorbik Choral Master Class, Jordanville, NY, February 2014
Conducting Participant, Vladimir Gorbik Choral Master Class, Yonkers, NY, June 2012
CONDUCTING EXPERIENCE
St. Kassiani Chorale, Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, May 2011-present: Music Director and Conductor
STARS Theater Company, Bedford, Texas, 2003-present: Music Director and Conductor of Summer Musicals
St. Maximus the Confessor Orthodox Church, Denton, Texas, July 2001-August 2023: Choir Director
Chamber Orchestra of Denton, Denton, Texas, 2002-2007: Music Director and Conductor
Denton Community Theatre, Denton, Texas, January-March 2003: Music Director and Conductor for Showboat
University of North Texas DMA Recitals 2003-2004: Conductor (Copland, Quiet City; Brahms, Piano
Concerto No. 2)Opera in the Ozarks, Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Summer 2003: Scene Conductor (Duet from Pique Dame)
University of North Texas Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, Denton, Texas, January 2002-May 2003: Student Conductor
University of North Texas Opera Theatre, Denton, Texas, January 2001-August 2002: Assistant Conductor (The Crucible); Assistant Music Director and Conductor (Die Zauberflöte); Assistant Conductor and Bandmaster (la Traviata; Don Giovanni); Maestro Callabatorio (la Traviata performances in Castelfranco, Italy)
University of Tennessee Student Concert, Knoxville, TN, 2000: Conductor (Tribute to Aaron Copland)
GUEST CONDUCTING/TEACHING
Private Conducting Lesson Teacher, 2019-present
“Achieving Liturgical Beauty through Music” 2023, Allen, TX: Master Class Clinician/Workshop Coordinator
Russian Orthodox Church Musicians Conference 2022, Nanuet, NY: Guest Conductor and Clinician
Holy Apostles Orthodox Church Choir Workshop, Tulsa, OK: Master Class Clinician/Workshop Coordinator
Russian Orthodox Church Musicians Conference 2016, Los Angeles, CA: Guest Conductor and Clinician
Male Choir of the Moscow Representation Church of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, August 2015, Moscow, Russia: Guest Conductor
Adjunct Instructor of Music Appreciation, North Central Texas College, 2005-present
RECORDINGS AS CONDUCTOR
Let God Arise: Music of the Paschal Season, St. Maximus the Confessor Orthodox Church Choir, 2016
AWARDS/COMPETITIONS
Finalist Honorable Mention: The American Prize in Conducting—The Dale Warland Award in Choral Conducting, (non-college division), 2022
PRINCIPAL CONDUCTING TEACHERS
Anshel Brusilow, University of North Texas
Dr. Clay Couturiaux, University of North Texas
Dr. Stephen Dubberly, University of North Texas
Dr. Vladimir Gorbik, Moscow State Conservatory; Capital Symphony Orchestra (Moscow)
W. Sande MacMorran, University of Tennessee; Knoxville Youth Symphony