Biography

Alexandra has been passionate about music and has been connecting with audiences since the age of three. With exposure to culture and community in her hometown of Sarasota, Florida, Alexandra explored and experienced a range of music,that included musical theatre, opera, jazz, pop and dance. By the age of five, Alexandra was writing original music to new found rhythms, while expressing herself in lyrics and tunes. At six, she started performing for large groups at local synagogues where she shined in the spotlight, and by age nine, was fully engaged in musical performance. From that point on, music was the centerpiece of her life.

From ages ten to thirteen, Alexandra performed in Sarasota, FL at different local community theatres; singing, dancing, and acting. For those three years, she performed at the Flanzer Community Center in three original shows; Shalom Soup, Bonds, and Our Golda. By performing original shows, Alexandra was able to learn different ways of composing music and how to create stories with lyrics. She realized then how important it is to understand what you’re saying and believe in what you’re doing on stage.

At the age of fourteen, Alexandra started taking professional vocal lessons. Alexandra discovered that her voice had more to offer the world than just musical theatre pieces. As her voice teacher had her listen to Maria Callas and Renee Fleming, Alexandra knew from then on that her voice could carry over an orchestra without the presence of a microphone.

From ages fourteen to seventeen, Alexandra continued her intense studies in opera and concentrated solely on making her voice more controlled, strong, focused, resonant, rounded, and more beautiful. Working with Rosemarie Freni from the Sarasota Apprentice Program at the age of seventeen helped Alexandra grow as an artist. Rosemarie Freni made certain Alexandra understood the piece that she was singing. Starting out as a soprano, Alexandra had to figure out a way to make her voice distinct and different from others.

Before graduating high school, Alexandra put together a one hour program at Temple Beth Sholom, Sarasota, FL which featured herself, Kristen Conn, Rosemarie Freni, Hazzan Diane Nathanson, and instrumentalists; Matt Pegis and his wife. This was a charity benefit that Alexandra put together on a Sunday afternoon in front of 150 people in the beginning of August. By doing this program, Alexandra proved that she could orchestrate a cultural event worthy of high reviews and ticket sales. The people in her community praised her for the mature fashion in which she conducted herself. She was able to organize, stage, and conduct the entire operation so well that people asked her to come back. At this crossroad in her life, Alexandra knew that she was ready for the next level.

At the age of eighteen, Alexandra attended Longy School of Music, Cambridge, MA under the direction of Emily Romney and Brian Moll. At Longy School of Music, Alexandra learned how to harmonize with different voices and learned pieces quickly and precisely. Longy School of Music also gave Alexandra exposure to their stage and to the Boston Area as she performed several solo concerts and recitals with orchestra, chamber orchestra, and with fellow colleagues. This allowed Alexandra to experience performing with other singers and instrumentalists and helped her grow as an opera singer.

At the age of twenty, Alexandra transferred to New World School of the Arts, Miami FL, where she worked under the direction of Rodney Miller and Carol Caselle. At New World, Alexandra was also exposed to doing solo performances, recitals and operas. In December 2007, Alexandra was the cover for the Witch in Hansel und Gretel and also was Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro. Also, that year, Alexandra noticed that her voice was changing. Her chest voice became more prominent and her middle voice was getting stronger. Though she had a good top and could vocalize to an E above high C, her range was growing in the bottom significantly. It seemed at that point, that Alexandra’s voice was going into the mezzo-soprano realm. As a result, her teacher Carol Caselle advised Alexandra to start looking at mezzo-soprano repertoire; which helped Alexandra’s voice grow immensely and get bigger, richer, and fuller. In February 2008, Alexandra won the Concerto Competition where she sang Dorabella’s aria, “Ah Scostati.... Smanie Implacabili” from Cosi Fan Tutte by W.A. Mozart with orchestra in front of 200 people. That proved to her that switching to a mezzo-soprano was better for her voice at the time. In 2009, Alexandra performed in several different concerts and solo recitals in Miami and Sarasota until she graduated in June 2009 with a B.M. from the University of Florida, Magna Cum Laude.

After graduation, Alexandra decided to study abroad in Jerusalem, Israel singing liturgical music and operas. In December 2009, Alexandra had sung in Jerusalem, Ashkelon, Tel Aviv, Ashdod, Katamon, Baka, Tiberias, Beersheba, and Rosh Pinna. In March 2010, Alexandra was asked to sing at the Jerusalem Music Center and the Jerusalem Academy of Music under renowned soprano/conductor Jeanette Favarro-Reuter. By living in Jerusalem, Israel for nine months, Alexandra was exposed to different cultures and a new way of life; which helped her grow as an artist.

In September 2010, Alexandra enrolled at NYU Steinhardt School of Music, NY in Classical Voice. In May of 2012, Alexandra graduated from New York University with a Masters Degree in Music Voice Opera, Summa Cum Laude. Since living in New York City, Alexandra has become exposed to Lincoln Center, Jazz clubs, Broadway Shows, and famous actors. While at NYU, Alexandra did extensive scene work, acting, mime, German song repertory, contemporary dance, and opera workshops with her fellow colleagues and by herself. Last year, she performed scenes from The Marriage of Figaro, Cosi Fan Tutte, Die Fledermaus, Werther, Vanessa, Carmen, Ariadne auf Naxos, La Giaconda, and Cavalleria Rusticana.

Alexandra has been connecting with music and with audiences since the age of three. With exposure to nature and community in her hometown of Sarasota, Florida, from this early age, Alexandra explored and experienced a range of music, that included musical theatre, opera, jazz, pop and dance. By the age of five, Alexandra was writing original music to new-found rhythms, while expressing herself in lyrics and tunes. At six, she started performing for large groups at local synagogues where she shined in the spotlight, and by age nine, was fully engaged in musical performance. From that point on, music was the centerpiece of her life.

Now, at the age of 29, with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music, Alexandra has been fortunate to sing and perform all over the United States and certain countries all over the world; and continues to improve and work on her voice wherever she goes. Alexandra also thanks her colleagues and teachers at the Central Lyric Opera for helping her to get to the next level in her career.