Born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1940, Sidlin studied at the Peabody Institute, graduating in 1968 with a Master's degree.
[1] Sidlin's first appointment after graduating was as Assistant Conductor at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra under Sergiu Comissiona.
For 32 years he was co-director (together with David Zinman) of the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen Festival.
[2] Alumni of the program during his tenure include Peter Oundjian, Cristian Macelaru, Tomas Netopil, Tito Muñoz, Philippe Bach, José De Eusebio, Hugh Wolff, James Gaffigan, Apo Hsu, Lawrence Golan, Kenneth Woods, Sasha Mäkilä, Kenneth Kiesler, Josep Caballé Domenech, and David Hayes.
[3] Sidlin is a member of Prague Society for International Cooperation, a respected NGO whose main goals are networking and the development of a new generation of responsible, well-informed leaders and thinkers.