Role

:

Composer Performer

Birth

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1967

 

Alexandra Gardner is a contemporary classical music composer who was born in 1967 in Washington, D.C. She grew up in a family of musicians, with her mother being a pianist and her father a composer. Gardner started playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the violin and viola. She attended the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland, where she studied composition with Robert Hall Lewis and Morris Moshe Cotel. After completing her studies, Gardner moved to Seattle, Washington, where she became involved in the city's vibrant music scene. She worked as a composer and performer, collaborating with a variety of musicians and artists. In 1997, she co-founded the Seattle-based new music ensemble, Kin of the Moon, which focuses on experimental and improvisational music. Gardner's music is characterized by its use of electronic and acoustic instruments, as well as its incorporation of found sounds and field recordings. Her compositions often explore themes of nature, technology, and the human experience. She has been commissioned by a variety of organizations, including the Seattle Symphony, the Kronos Quartet, and the American Composers Forum. One of Gardner's most notable works is "Chiaroscuro," a piece for string quartet and electronics that was commissioned by the Kronos Quartet in 2007. The piece explores the contrast between light and dark, with the strings representing the light and the electronics representing the dark. The piece has been performed by the Kronos Quartet at venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall and the Barbican Centre in London. Another notable work by Gardner is "The Space Between Us," a multimedia piece that was commissioned by the Seattle Symphony in 2016. The piece combines live music with video projections and explores the relationship between humans and technology. The piece was performed by the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall and was later released on CD. Gardner has also been involved in a number of collaborative projects. In 2012, she collaborated with choreographer Olivier Wevers on a ballet called "Memory and Loss." The piece was performed by the Pacific Northwest Ballet and explored the themes of memory and grief. Gardner's music was praised for its emotional depth and sensitivity. In addition to her work as a composer, Gardner is also an educator. She has taught composition at the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle and has been a guest lecturer at a number of universities and music festivals. She is known for her commitment to mentoring young composers and helping to develop the next generation of musical talent. Overall, Alexandra Gardner is a talented and innovative composer who has made significant contributions to the world of contemporary classical music. Her work is characterized by its use of electronic and acoustic instruments, as well as its exploration of themes related to nature, technology, and the human experience. She continues to be an important figure in the music world, both as a composer and as an educator.

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