Johannes Dietrich

Johannes Dietrich, a native of Bozeman, Montana, joined the faculty of Lebanon Valley College in 1995. As the Newton and Adelaide Burgner Professor in Instrumental Music, he directs the LVC Symphony Orchestra, teaches conducting, string methods, applied violin and viola, and coaches chamber music ensembles.

As a violinist and chamber musician, he has performed throughout the United States, as well as in Austria, Germany, and Italy. As a member of Duo Terlano, he performs regularly with his wife, cellist Marie-Aline Cadieux. He has released two CDs – Solo Journeys, which includes the World Premiere of Scott Eggert’s “Adagia” for solo violin and the Duo Terlano recording, Whimsies.

As a conductor, Dr. Dietrich has led festival, district, regional, and All-State orchestras from New Jersey to Montana. He made his opera-conducting debut with the Berks Opera Workshop, leading their production of Massenet’s Thais. He has served as President of the College Orchestra Director’s Association Northeast region. Recently the Lebanon Valley College Symphony Orchestra, under Dr. Dietrich’s leadership, was awarded third place in the America Prize Orchestral Programming competition. His college orchestra has toured Austria, Italy, Ireland and the Czech Republic, with performances by special invitation at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, and the world- renowned Rudolfinum in Prague.  The LVC Symphony Orchestra returned to Europe in May, 2023, with performances in Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria.

Dr. Dietrich is active as a clinician, regularly offering workshops throughout the northeast on violin technique, pedagogy, and ensemble playing. He has served as President of the Pennsylvania/Delaware String Teachers Association, and received that organization’s “Outstanding Orchestra Director of the Year” and “Outstanding Studio Teacher” awards.

Dr. Dietrich began studying the violin at the age of five, and shortly thereafter began lessons on the piano. He has studied with Helmut Zehetmair at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, with Johan Jonsson at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, and with Constantine Kiradjieff at the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, from which he holds a Master of Music degree in Violin Performance and a Doctorate in Violin Performance and Conducting.

His students have been prizewinners and finalists in both State and National competitions, and have been accepted into leading undergraduate and graduate music programs. Many have gone on to become successful teachers and performers in their own right.

During breaks in his schedule, Dr. Dietrich can often be found backpacking through the wilds of Montana, cross-country skiing, fly fishing on secluded streams, or cooking elegant meals with his wife.

Guest Conducting

• West Shore School District Orchestra Festival, Red Land High School (2024)
• Bucks County Orchestra Festival, Bucks County Music Educators Association 2024 All-County Music Festival, Pennridge High School (2024)
• Maryland All-State Orchestra (2023)
• PMEA North Region Orchestra (2022)
• PMEA District 7 Orchestra (2022)
• Berks County (PA) Senior High Orchestra (2019)
• Loudoun County (VA) All-County Orchestra (2018)
• PMEA District 4&6 Orchestra (2018)
• PMEA District 7 Orchestra (2017)
• Montana All-State Orchestra (2015)

Recordings and Publications

• Member of the violin section for the Bach Choir of Bethlehem’s world premiere recording of Felix Mendelssohn’s realization of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Saint Matthew Passion. Directed by Dr. Christopher Jackson and produced by Malcolm Bruno, the recording will be commercially released next spring.
• Minuetto by G. Bolzoni, Arr. Dietrich: Published by FJH Music
• Solo violin CD featuring the World Premiere Recording of Scott Eggert’s “Adagia,” as well as J.S. Bach’s D minor partita.
• Duo Terlano Whimsies

Conference and Workshop Presentations

• Women Composers – Panel Presentation: College Orchestra Director’s AssociationNational Conference, Boston, MA, February 2019
• Preparing your students for college auditions and interviews: American String Teacher’s Association National Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, February 2017
• The Creative Musician’s Practice “toolbox”: MENC Eastern Division Conference: Baltimore, MD, April 2011
• The Art of Delegating – steps toward elegant and efficient string playing: MENC Eastern Division Conference: Baltimore, MD, April 2011

Awards

• America Prize – Vytautas Marijosius Memorial Award in Orchestral Programing (Third Place), awarded to Johannes Dietrich and the LVC Symphony Orchestra, June 2018
• Pennsylvania-Delaware String Teachers Association Outstanding Studio Teacher Award: April 2014
• Pennsylvania-Delaware String Teachers Association Outstanding Orchestra DirectorAward: April 2008
• Pennsylvania-Delaware String Teachers Association Distinguished Service Award: April 2003

Professional Affiliations

• American String Teacher’s Association
• College Orchestra Directors Association
• Pennsylvania Music Educator’s Association

• Applied Violin and Viola
• Applied Conducting
• Symphony Orchestra
• String Methods
• Beginning and Advanced Conducting
• Chamber Music
• Violin and Viola Pedagogy
• Violin and Viola Literature