Hometown: London, Ontario, Canada
Current city: Houston, Texas
Pronouns: (she/her)
1. Any upcoming gigs you’re particularly excited about?
I have a bassoon-voice duo, Pushback, and we are planning some performances for the late spring. We will be reimagining Anthony R Green’s Conduct thy footsteps… as well as premiering and recording two of our newly commissioned works. We’re also working on some educational plans, which I’m really excited about. Something I loved that I just did was Olivia Shortt’s micro-opera for Long Beach UnGala. They wrote the most amazing piece!
2. What have you enjoyed most about using StageTime and how do you feel it will help innovate the performing arts industry?
What I love most about StageTime is how it has been created to truly highlight one’s individual strengths. Jennie was so deliberate about catering to multi-disciplinary creatives and making sure the platform was well-suited to everyone from singers to composers to multi-hyphenates. Saying “well, I run an ensemble and commission and premiere a bunch of music” doesn’t always fit easily on a resume. On StageTime, not only does it fit, but it looks natural!
3. You’ve performed a truly impressive amount of new music/new works. What speaks to you about new music and how did you find yourself drawn to this genre?
I just love sounds and noises, especially those that traditionally could be considered incongruous. It’s what I’ve always been attracted to. Right now, a piece I’m just loving is Chris Castro’s Brooklyn Narcissus: you should listen to it!
What I love about the potential of new music is that it is a place where we can evolve tradition by changing what stories are being told, who is telling them, and how they’re being contextualized. I think a great example of this is The Industry’s production of Mo Sweetland, a dual composition between Raven Chacon and Du Yun. You can still watch it streamed, and it is incredible.
4. You also do web design and multimedia projects. How do these other skills and interests inform or influence you as a performer? What do you love about being a multi-disciplinary artist?
What I love most about being a multi-disciplinary artist is community. The skills I acquire are not just for me, they’re to nurture and aid the people around me. There’s so much more that goes into a performance than just the performing. Being able to help people whose art I believe in make plans to ensure they can focus on telling their important, new stories is as meaningful to me as my own performing. It’s about shared values – If I can use what’s at my disposal to get someone else into the room, someone who I believe will make this industry better and reimagine what it means to be a classical musician, that is time well spent. As for how it affects me, I think it has made me more creative, more willing to risk, and more willing to be patient. Troubleshooting, being able and excited to look at the big picture, leads to really awesome discoveries.
See Alexandra’s StageTime profile here!