The music of composer Alexandra Gardner draws inspiration from sources including mythology, contemporary art forms, and her training as a percussionist. Composing for varied instrumentations and often mixing acoustic instruments with electronics, Gardner is building new audiences for contemporary music through an expressive sound and flair for the imaginative and unexpected.
Gardner’s compositions have been featured at festivals and venues throughout the world, including performances at the Aspen Music Festival, Warsaw Autumn Festival, MATA, Beijing Modern Festival, Centro de Cultura Contemporania de Barcelona, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Look & Listen, Conservatory of Amsterdam, Symphony Space, Merkin Hall, The Library of Congress, Festival Cervantino, and The Kennedy Center. Her music has been commissioned and performed by acclaimed ensembles and musicians such as SOLI Chamber Ensemble, cellist Joshua Roman, Percussions de Barcelona, NOW Ensemble, pianist Jenny Lin, and The Seattle Chamber Players.
Recent performance highlights include the world premieres of Just Say Yes for the Seattle Symphony, conducted by Ludovic Morlot and featuring drummer Alan White from the band Yes on drum set, Banyan by the Chicago Composer’s Orchestra, and Ciphers and Constellations for string orchestra with electronics, commissioned by The String Orchestra of Brooklyn. During the summer of 2016 the Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble took eight newly commissioned works including Gardner’s Vixen for mixed chamber ensemble on a tour of National Parks to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park System.
Gardner’s music has received honors and awards from organizations such as ASCAP, American Music Center, American Composers Forum, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Maryland State and District of Columbia Arts Councils, Meet The Composer, The Netherland-America Foundation, Open Meadows Foundation, the Prix Ton Bruynèl, and the Smithsonian Institution. She has conducted residencies at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, Harvestworks Digital Media Arts Center, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, and MacDowell. She was awarded the 2002-03 Vassar College W.K. Rose Fellowship in the Creative Arts, and from 2002-2004 she served as a visiting composer at the Institut Universitari de l’Audiovisual in Barcelona, Spain. Her music is recorded on the Innova, Ars Harmonica, and Naxos labels.
Gardner holds degrees from The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University and Vassar College. She currently resides in Baltimore, Maryland.
