MUSIC
Family, Life’s Most Powerful Siren Song by Richard Coupe
Dawn Dixon offers both voice and piano lessons through Music Plus Studios and Mississippi Music.
the two talent agencies, Dixon performed across Germany and England in both opera and concert settings. “I was just trying to make some money while making some connections,” she says. However, when doctors diagnosed her mother with breast cancer in the late 1980s, she decided to fly home, and she never returned to Europe to continue her career overseas.
Instead, Dixon established her own music business, Music Plus Studios, in Birmingham. The business eventually expanded to three locations and employed more than 20 instructors who taught voice, guitar, drums, violin, acting, flute and more. Altogether, more than 600 students furthered their music education at Music Plus each week. Once again, though, family led Dixon to make a major life change. Wanting to be closer to her daughter, Dea Dean, who had come to Jackson to attend Belhaven University and later the Reformed Theological Seminary to finish her degree in counseling, Dixon left Birmingham six years ago to make a home out of the capital city. Another factor for Dixon’s decision to move to Jackson was that her daughter Dea and her husband Jack, who works in medical sales, were preparing for children. “I knew that I wanted to be around my grandchildren,” Dixon says. Dixon still runs Music Plus Studios, which operates out of the city center in Madison, and she also offers voice and piano lessons through Mississippi Music in Flowood. “I don’t sing in public much anymore, but I will still sing with an orchestra because that’s my love.” Dawn says, adding that she enjoys performing in elaborate shows. Presently, Dixon lives in northeast Jackson with her kittens and looks forward to the day her two grandchildren, ages 3 and 5, are able to stay overnight with her. To learn more about lessons, call 1-205-969-1443.
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COMMUNITY
CONCERTS & FESTIVALS
History Is Lunch Series July 15, July 22, noon-1 p.m., via Facebook Live. The Mississippi Department of Archives and History hosts the series of lectures featuring guest speakers presenting on varying topics. Livestreams available virtually through MDAH’s Facebook page. Free admission; call 601-576-6800; mdah.ms.gov.
The District Green LIVE July 9, July 16, 7-9 p.m., at The District at Eastover (1250 Eastover Drive). The District opens its central community green space for people to bring their lawn chairs or blankets and view the live performances held weekly by different artists. Social distancing required. Food available for purchase from nearby restaurants. Free admission, food and drink prices vary; call 601-914-0800; find it on Facebook.
KIDS Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Secrets of the Sewer! July 8-22, 9 a.m., at Mississippi Children’s Museum (2145 Museum Blvd.). The children’s museum presents its latest traveling exhibit based on the Nickelodeon television series. $10 admission; call 601-981-5469; email neely@ mcm.ms; mschildrensmuseum.org. Farmer’s Table Children’s Camp July 13-17, 9 a.m.-noon, at Farmer’s Table in Livingston (1030 Market St., Flora). Connor Wolf leads the summer camp where participants ages 7-16 learn to prepare multicultural dishes. Each day focuses on a different dish. Limited to 10. COVID-19 guidelines enforced. $299 full week; call 601506-6821; farmerstableinlivingston.com.
SPORTS & WELLNESS Choreorobics Dance Off July 12, July 14, July 17, July 19, July 21, 5:30 p.m., Zoom. Professional dancers and choreographers Roger & Tena host virtual hip-hop dance and fitness classes via Zoom. $7 per class, $10 two classes, $40 unlimited classes/month; choreorobics.com.
LITERARY “The Dearly Beloved” Virtual Happy Hour July 8, 5 p.m., Zoom. Square Books hosts a virtual discussion via Zoom with Cara Wall on her book. RSVP required. Copies available for purchase. Free admission, RSVP; call 662-2362262; squarebooks.com. The Sob Sisters Talk Books July 14, noon, via Facebook Live. Lemuria hosts the virtual event through its Facebook page where renown authors Susannah Cahalan, Karen Abbott and Ada Calhoun discuss their books and more. Free admission; call 601-366-7619; email info@ lemuriabooks.com; lemuriabooks.com.
PROFESSIONAL & BIZ Summer Legal Clinic Series July 10, noon, Virtual. The Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project hosts the series of workshops to explain and answer any questions from the general public regarding no-fault divorce, uncontested
guardianships, simple wills, advance healthcare directive, power of attorney, and felony and misdemeanor expungement matters. Free admission; call 601-882-5001; mvlp.org. Quick Bite—Sharing the Crayons: Appreciating Diversity July 10, July 17, 12:15-12:45 p.m., Virtual. Pam Confer leads the webinar on diversity in the workplace. The course aims to help participants understand the subtle ways bias can occur, identify the elements of cultural competence in the workplace, establish a framework to increase inclusion at the organizational level, recognize the three dimensions of cultural awareness when interacting with other cultures, and develop the skills needed to practice respectful and caring behavior toward culturally diverse individuals and groups. $25 single training, $40 two trainings, $15 each (3 or more); call 601-968-0061; alliancems.org. Why Your Data Matters Now More Than Ever July 14, 9-10:30 a.m., Virtual. Billy Wear leads the webinar on grant-making that showcases important tools organizations can use to understand the role of contributed data in informing important decisions and conversations across the sector while being conscious of social needs based on health, economics and race. $25 single training; call 601-968-0061; email connect@alliancems.org; alliancems.org. Digital Marketing Strategies For Small Businesses July 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at Jackson Downtown Convention Center Hotel (9009 S.E. Adams St., Suite 1911). The workshop helps participants learn about current trends in small business-related web design and marketing.
Admission TBA; call 503-451-6675; email deb@ sharptackmedia.com; sharptackmedia.com. Managing Situations Impacting Your Organization July 20, 1-2:30 p.m., Virtual. Donna Marcum leads the webinar on the tax-related financial requirements for general operations, payroll and staffing, programs and governance that are necessary to establish and maintain a nonprofit organization. $25 single training; call 601-968-0061; alliancems.org.
BE THE CHANGE Virtual Dash ‘N Splash July 8-22, anytime, Virtual. The Brain Injury Association of Mississippi organizes the annual fundraising event as a virtual 5k. Participants receive a T-shirt and a $10 gift card to Kathryn’s. Participants encouraged to share photos and videos of themselves running, walking or rolling the distance while beating the heat on the event’s Facebook page. Awards include “Biggest Team Award,” “Most Team Spirit Award,” “Best Photo Award” and “Most Creative Video Award.” Ends July 27. $20-$25 registration; call 601-981-1021; raceroster.com. Virtual 5K Trash Dash July 11, Virtual. Keep Jackson Beautiful organize the inaugural plogging event, wherein participants collect garbage from the streets of their chosen neighborhoods or other public areas while walking/running the 5k. Participants may choose to log in their kilometers and plogging before the listed date. Registration covers the cost of a T-shirt and plogging kit. Proceeds benefit KJB and its mission to make the Jackson metro, and Mississippi at large, cleaner. $25 adult, $15 child; call 601-953-1123; keepjacksonbeautiful.com. Send upcoming events to events@jacksonfreepress.com.
July 8 - 21, 2020 • jfp.ms
EVENTS
courtesy Dawn Dixon
A
passion for music may have led Dawn Dixon across the Atlantic Ocean for a time, but her love for her family brought her back to her southern roots. Native to Birmingham, Ala., Dixon was raised in a musical home. “I grew up in music,” she says. Her grandfather, John Urquhart, played both the saxophone and the trumpet and used to tour Europe with his own band in the 1920s. Meanwhile, Dixon’s grandmother would sing live on radio shows during the era. After graduating from high school, Dixon enrolled in Birmingham-Southern College, earning a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance in 1982. Dixon credits her later success in music to her college instructors. “When I went to college, I had the best teachers in the world,” she says. “World-class teachers in voice and piano. If you get that kind of training, you can’t help but be good. It just happens.” Rachel Mathes and Andrew Daney fine-tuned Dixon’s vocal skills, with the former helping her improve the technical aspects of the craft, while the latter helped her insert personality into her big voice. Edna Knox of Juilliard taught Dixon piano. Seeing promise in Dixon, Mathes—who herself had a long-standing career as a professional singer throughout Europe and the United States—invited the recent college graduate to sign with Paasch Agency in Dusseldorf, Germany, and Dahlrymple Agency in London. Through
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