Vimbayi Kaziboni wins 2024 Ditson Fund Conductor’s Award

Celebrated conductor and USC Thornton alumnus Vimbayi Kaziboni (‘10) has won the 2024 Alice M. Ditson Fund Conductor’s Award. He earned $5,000 and a citation from Columbia University’s president, Minouche Shafik. Established in 1945, the Alice M. Ditson Fund is the oldest continuing award honoring conductors for distinguished contributions to American music.

“This comes as a delightful surprise. I am honored and thankful for this recognition of my work, and above all, ever-grateful to those who have helped get me here,” Kaziboni said. “Indeed, I am truly humbled to be on a list of honorees that includes many of my personal artistic heroes: James de Priest, Leonard Bernstein, Marin Alsop, and Michael Tilson Thomas among others. I am deeply moved with so much gratitude.”

A former Fulbright fellow, Kaziboni studied with keyboard studies faculty member Lucinda Carver at Thornton. He currently serves as artistic advisor of the Boston Lyric Opera, artist-in-residence with the International Contemporary Ensemble, a fellow at the Hermitage Artist Retreat, and music director of the Composers Conference. He is also an assistant professor of orchestral studies and contemporary music at Boston Conservatory at Berklee.