norman lebrecht
January 11, 2026
The American conductor Isaiah Jackson, music director of the Royal Ballet from 1987 to 1990, died in Oakland, California, on December 24 at the age of 80.
Isaiah was part of a generation of black American conductors who suffered all forms of prejudice in their careers. He achieved more than most, becoming music director of the Dayton Philharmonic in Ohio and a lecturer in the Philosophy of Music at the University of Dayton. He gave up conducting in 2006 after a lengthy struggle with hearing loss. Three years ago, he gave up teaching at Berklee College of Music.
Elegant and erudite, Isaiah lived in London for several years after his Covent Garden engagement, enjoying its relative tolerance and diversity. He was fluent in five languages and discourteous in none.
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