Bio
Robert Alexander
Composer - Saxophonist - Teacher
Robert Alexander is a Los Angeles-based composer and saxophonist completely untethered to one style and performance practice. His work as a composer explores a wide range of sounds from the atmospheric and ambient, to rigorous structures, to free unabashed lyricism. As a saxophonist he is a regular member of TC4, a classically-focused saxophone quartet, and Mr. Bernson, a Southern California ska band.
Robert’s work has been recognized as a finalist for the ASCAP Morton Gould Award and the Interlochen Center for the Arts. He has been performed by ensembles like the Boulder Altitude Directive, the World Youth Wind Symphony, loadbang, the USC Symphony, and the Spirit of Troy Marching Band. A recent release of his, titled Spa
Music, is a 24-minute exploration of a very rigorous and patient process of the compression and expansion of a short cyclic motive. Currently he is working on a large-scale concerto for saxophone quartet for his group, TC4.
Performance is as equal a part of his musical life as writing and Robert enjoys performing a wide-range of repertoire with TC4, from Pixar arrangements to the music of French impressionists to completely new works commissioned for and by the group. In addition to his work on a concerto for the group, he is currently working on an album-length of arrangements of the music of Scott Joplin for sax quartet. With TC4 Robert has given masterclasses to high schools and universities across the country, including the New England Conservatory of Music, the University of Southern California, and Sonoma State University. In Mr. Bernson, Robert is an active member of the 10-strong band helping to write originals and covers, as well as soloing as bari saxophonist in the 4-man horn section.
Robert holds a master’s degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California. He is an overzealous lover of board games, pasta making, LEGOs, and turtle photography.