Husband, Bill Neill
“In September 1984, while we were still living in Amsterdam, Dixie was invited to be a judge for the 1985 Miss America Competition in Atlantic City. Because I was tied up with engagements in Europe at the time, our son, a highly hormonal 14-year-old, went as her escort. They had the time of their lives. In spite of all that Dixie had already accomplished to this point in her life professionally, in her hometown of Lincolnton, North Carolina, this great event truly put her on the map. Everyone there always watched the Miss America Pageant. It was a tradition, and they got to see their very own local celebrity on TV! As a matter of fact, all of our friends the world over were enormously amused, amazed and, at the same time, eaten alive with envy, but only in the most loving, friendly and humorous of way, of course.”
Deborah Raymond, assistant professor of voice at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff
“With Dixie Ross Neill’s passing, the world lost an extraordinary pianist, vocal coach, and truly giving person. I lost one of my dearest friends of 30 years. She was my coach-teacher for many of those years. Along with our husbands, she was instrumental in my seemingly illogical transition from soubrette to the role of Salome. Had Dixie not coached and encouraged me in this direction, I never would have had a career.
“Dixie was a fighter. Refusing to accept mediocrity, she fought for her beliefs, which were sometimes controversial and not always popular. She also fought against health obstacles much of her life, driven largely by her work.
“I have only recently allowed myself to remember our time together in New York, Amsterdam, Vermont, Toronto, and Montreal. The memories are innumerable and will always keep her alive in my heart.”
Baritone Luc Lalonde
“I met Dixie on March 7, 1997. I had called her after a friend suggested that I coach the audition repertoire for my entrance to McGill with her. So on that date, I went to Montreal and sang for her. She loved me instantly and told me that Bill would really enjoy working with me. Since English was a new language for me, my first year at an all-English university was very difficult. After a year of accommodation to the language, my grades were low. Possibly because I did not understand everything Bill said to me, I was also not practicing efficiently, and he suggested that I find a new teacher.
“I knew the Neill technique worked for me and I had coached with Dixie. I loved the way she explained ‘stuff’ so I went to her with Bill’s letter and asked her to take me as a vocal student, even though she was a coach. I told her that otherwise I would just pack up and go home. We asked permission from the performance chair at McGill and received it.
“That’s how my real vocal story started. Dixie is the one who trained me. She’s the one to whom I owe my voice, my technique, everything!
“Here’s a little story. A few summers ago, I took the train from Toronto back to Montreal with Dixie. Since we didn’t want to spend a fortune on food, we brought our own ‘picnic’ and a bottle of wine. We had the best time, talking about opera, the Met, life, telling funny stories about singers, parties, etc.
“When Dixie left her seat for a moment, the woman in the seat in front of us asked me if Dixie was Anna Russell! When she returned, we laughed hysterically!”
Soprano Jennifer Susan Chamandy, of the Tiroler Landestheater in Innsbruck, Austria
“I miss Dixie so very much. I sang my first Santuzza in Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana here in Innsbruck on Sept. 26, 2007. I find it sheer destiny that approximately one year ago Dixie told me that I must learn Santuzza’s aria ‘Voi lo sapete, o Mamma’ for auditions, and that I should look at the whole role as well. About seven months later I was asked to sing it. She knew things!
“I first met her was when I was 19 and had just begun to study for my bachelor of music degree at the University of Toronto. I asked to study with Bill Neill and when I auditioned for him, Dixie played the piano for me. I had prepared ‘Batti batti’ from Don Giovanni, a soubrette aria. I was terrible. I saw Dixie give Bill a look of, ‘What the—?’ They told me to come back the next week with an aria that I really loved.
So, the following week I brought in ‘Vissi d’arte’ from Puccini’s Tosca. Dixie looked at Bill and they had a silent communication of probably, ‘OK, little girl let’s see if you can pull this off!’ Well, I did and they loved it. From behind the piano, Dixie gave Bill a positive nod. It made me so happy to think that she was even slightly impressed with me, because I could feel the power, the knowledge, and the intensity she possessed, along with her dedication to opera and good singing!
“They told me I was a spinto. I didn’t know what that was. They said that I should put aside Tosca for many years, however. Dixie and I coached Tosca’s aria again two years ago. Now, almost 20 years after that first audition, I’ll be singing that role for the first time during February of 2008. Dixie won’t physically be in the audience but she’ll be there in spirit.”
Tenor Jay Hunter Morris
“My first voice lesson with Bill and Dixie was in Toronto in 1992. I just flat out could not sing. You know what I mean. Everything falls apart for most every singer at one point or another. It often happens to young tenors. We just have to piece it all back together and learn to sing like grown-ups. I guess some parts of my voice were all right, but anything in the vicinity of a high note got ‘kenerdled over’ into some puny form of falsetto, and more often than not ended in a yodel Tarzan would envy. I was in serious need of some good advice.
“So, Dixie played and I sang an aria. I got through most of it, and then [came] the high B-flat at the end. I did that thing we tenors sometimes do and flipped it up there where nobody except me could hear it . . . Dixie stopped playing, folded her hands and closed her eyes, and said, ‘Darlin’, don’t ever make that sound again.’ Bill solemnly added: ‘That’s just not how the big boys do it.’ All right. Just what I needed. Sometimes it’s just as valuable to know what not to do. . . .
“Bill once gave me a quote from Charles Schwab, of all people: ‘A man can achieve anything for which he has unbridled enthusiasm.’
“Bill and Dixie believed in me, they encouraged me and nurtured my ambitions when it seemed no one else could be bothered. They taught me with extraordinary patience and kindness when I didn’t have an agent, a job, or any money. They told me the truth, both the good and bad. They welcomed me into their home and they fed me–and yeah, sometimes we’d exchange lessons for, you know, landscaping or some other form of manual labor, but I’ve just never been terribly handy at that sort of thing. I definitely got the better end of that deal.
“When colleagues ask about [the Neills’] teaching style or philosophy, I never feel equipped to answer, but I will tell you this. They exhorted me to find my most honest sound, not an imitation of others. They gave me guidance and support, while placing the responsibility square on my shoulders. ‘You’re old enough; you’re smart enough. Now get in the practice room and let’s figure this out.’ Bill and Dixie Neill gave me the tools that have made this incredible journey possible. I’m honored and blessed to [have known] them!”
