FRANZ DICKS

Sacramento County

Biographies

FRANZ DICKS

FRANZ DICKS.--A distinguished representative of the German school of music, who has found a cordial welcome in the American land of his adoption, and who has, through his musical genius, amply repaid for whatever of American cheer has heartened him on his way, is Franz Dicks, the popular director and music teacher, of Sacramento. He was born at Duesseldorf, on January 16, 1868, the son of Henry and Augusta (Oterman) Dicks, the father a merchant in good standing, and both father and mother highly esteemed in that famous art center, with its many German-American art associations. Both of these worthy folks are now deceased.

At an early age, Franz Dicks showed a more than ordinary talent for music, especially for the violin, securing when only fifteen years old a notable prize at the Cologne Conservatory, where he was a pupil of Gustav Hollaender for three years. His instructors in pianoforte and theory were Arnold Kroegel and Gustav Jensen. After having been graduated from the conservatory, Mr. Dicks remained for several years in Cologne, as first violinist under the conductorship of Dr. Franz Wullner; and during that time, he was frequently heard as a concert soloist. In 1890, he became concert master at the Staedt Theater in Erfurth, and later he was first violinist in the Staedtischen Orchestra in Duesseldorf, his native city. When Mr. Dicks toured Germany, the “Tageblatt,” a newspaper of Cologne, spoke of his pleasing, congenial personality, and said that “the gifted young violinist played with a beautiful, full tone”; the “Westphaelischer Courier” of Dortmund said that “he scored an unqualified success,” and that “his Beethoven especially was fine---so dignified, majestic and sympathetic”; the famous “Koelner Zeitung,” also of Cologne, affirmed that “he did full justice to his Beethoven master-work”; and the Universitaets Nachrichten,” of the old university town of Marburg, could not have said more in praise when it declared of him: “We had anticipated hearing a good violinist---and we heard an artist.”

Until 1920, Professor Dicks was engaged with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, with which he played, in March, 1920, at Sacramento; but he then resigned his contract and returned here in August, following. He bought a five-acre ranch at Rio Linda, became leader of the Loew’s State Orchestra, and is director of music in the Sacramento County schools. His school-work takes him here and there, and he has become one of the best-known of musicians in this locality. His studio is located opposite the governor’s mansion, corner of Sixteenth and H Streets. He is fond of gardening, and is already deeply devoted to Sacramento, which he deems the garden spot of the world. In politics he is a Republican.

In Minneapolis, Minn., Professor Dicks married Miss Antoinette Plessman, a gifted daughter of the Fatherland, and also a local favorite; and one son, named Otto Edmund, has blessed their union. He is a member of the Rio Linda Country Club.

Transcribed by Suzanne Wood.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 654. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.