Ariane Alexander

London - based violist Ariane Alexander began her studies at the age of 8 with Robert McCausland in the School District 8 String program in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. During these early years, she studied privately with Hok Kwan, and was a featured soloist in Symphony New Brunswick’s “Stars of the Future” concert in May 2002. Ariane also played in the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra for six years, under Dr James Mark, and was assistant concertmaster for her final appearance with them at Carnegie Hall in 2003. As an undergraduate, Ariane studied with Dr. Nancy Dahn of Duo Concertante at Memorial University of Newfoundland, where she completed a degree in violin and a degree in music education. While on scholarship at the City University of New York, Brooklyn College, Ariane completed a master’s degree in viola performance, studying with Dr. Stephanie Griffin of the Momenta String Quartet. Sometimes torn between her love of new music and her love of traditional ensemble playing, Ariane has premiered over a dozen new works, including “Salt, Honey, Grounds” (Schedel/O’Halloran), the world’s first concerto for viola and laptop orchestra, with the Princeton Laptop Orchestra (PLOrk) in the spring of 2013 at Princeton University. Ariane has also freelanced in dozens of orchestras, spanning Canada, New York and England as both a violinist and a violist. She is currently based in London, UK. Ariane has also attended numerous summer music institutes such as Domaine Forget, Orford, the Pierre Monteux School, the Karen Tuttle Coordination workshop at New York University, the Hartt Suzuki Institute and the Tuckamore Chamber Music Festival, where she was coached by the Borromeo String Quartet, and the St. Lawrence String Quartet. As a conductor, Ariane directed the Timmins Youth Orchestra, which was described by violinist and music festival adjudicator Terry Holowach (of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra) as being “as good as any youth orchestra you’d find in any arts school in Toronto”. Under Ariane’s direction, the youth orchestra’s performances included works such as Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, Lehar’s Gold and Silver Waltz, and selections from Holst’s St Paul Suite and Vivaldi’s L’Estro Armonico. When not making music, Ariane can sometimes be found saving the world on her Xbox.