Bio

Dax Anthony Stokes is a conductor in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex area, with over 24 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

  • DMA, University of North Texas (Expected May 2026); Orchestral Conducting and Wind Studies

  • 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, Conductors Collegium, University of North Texas Wind Studies, Denton, TX, June 2025

  • Auditor, Advanced Orchestral Conducting Workshop, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, January 2025

  • 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

  • 21st All-American Council, Orthodox Church in America, Phoenix, AZ, July 2025: Coordinator of Music and Principal Conductor

  • North Central Texas Winds, Denton, TX, Spring 2024: Rehearsal Substitute Conductor

  • Music Theatre of Denton for Production of 9 to 5, Denton, TX, May 2017: Assistant/Substitute Conductor

  • Male Choir of the Moscow Representation Church of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, Moscow, Russia, August 2015: Guest Conductor

  • 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

  • St. Anne Orthodox Church Choir Workshop, Oak Ridge, TN, September 2025: Master Class Clinician/Workshop Coordinator

  • 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, March 2019, 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