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| Isaiah Allen Jackson III leads the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra during his third season as music director. Photo: Dayton Daily News Archives. |
In Thursday’s (1/8) Dayton Daily News (Ohio), Greg Lynch writes, “Isaiah Allen Jackson III, the first Black music director of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, has died, his family said. He was 80.
Jackson, who died in Oakland, California on Dec. 24, enjoyed a distinguished national and international career, serving in several principal conductor and music director roles, along with many years spent teaching at various universities and music schools.
Jackson was born in Richmond, Virginia … At age 14, he decided he wanted to be a conductor. Jackson graduated cum laude from Harvard in 1966 with a focus on Russian history and literature, earned an M.A. in music from Stanford in 1969 and completed a degree at Juilliard School in 1973.
Jackson was already a rising star on the international stage by the time he became the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra conductor and music director starting with the 1987-88 season…. Jackson worked to bridge a racial divide in classical music.
‘Classical music is a part of one’s birthright as a citizen of the world,’ he said…. ‘If for whatever reason people are cut off from that, … it’s our job to meet them more than halfway.’
Jackson’s tenure with the Dayton orchestra ended after the 1994-1995 season…. Jackson was also the music director of the Royal Ballet in London.
He guest conducted several orchestras around the world, including the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, the Queensland Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony orchestra, Canberra Symphony Orchestra and other various orchestras worldwide.
Jackson also taught at the Berklee College of Music for over 15 years.”
First published at symphony, January 13, 2026
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