Kristian Alexander

The critics wrote of Mo. KRISTIAN ALEXANDER: " Inspiring conductor with strong discipline and attention to every detail – qualities that bring great classical pieces from all genres and styles to life" (Markham Life). He is the founding Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Kindred Spirits Orchestra (Toronto, Ontario), the founding Music Director of the International Music Academy (Markham Ontario), the founding Artistic Director of Markham Contemporary Music Festival and the founding Artistic Director of the International Music Festival and Competition (Toronto). Kristian Alexander has conducted in famous concert halls throughout Europe, Canada and the Middle East: Internationale Bach-Collegium and Gächinger Kantorei in Stuttgart, Cairo Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Oratorio Society and Orchestra, the National Teleradio Symphony Orchestra of Moldova, Lutosławski Philharmonic Orchestra and Malawski Philharmonic Orchestra in Poland, the Opéra de Montréal Orchestra, the Royal Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra (Toronto), Oakville Chamber Orchestra, Guelph Symphony Orchestra, Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra, the Mozarteum Symphony Orchestra in Sofia, etc. Kristian Alexander has given the Canadian and the world premières of several contemporary works by John Williams, Garry Kulesha, Brian Current, Larysa Kuzmenko, Daniel Friedman, Kevin Lau, James Campbell, Constantine Caravassilis, Heather Schmidt, Chan Wing-Wah, Werner Chan, Erik Kreem and others. In recognition of his art he has been a recipient of several awards from the Canada Arts Council, L’Université de Montréal, Internationale Bachakademie (Stuttgart), the Mozarteum Internationale Stiftung (Salzburg), Open Society Foundation (New York), and the National Music Academy (Sofia). In addition to master degrees in orchestral and choral conducting, music theory and history, he holds various degrees in anthropology, theology, and arts management from academies and universities in Toronto, Montreal, Stuttgart and Sofia. He is the author of major scientific publications. He has studied anthropology, psychology, phenomenology and cognitive science. He has taught conducting and advanced interpretation at the International Music Academy in Toronto since 1996 and since 2003 he has been consultant in music education at the International Baccalaureate Organization (London, England). In addition, he has also taught modern languages and interpretation at the Atelier lyrique de l‘Opéra de Montréal between 2000 and 2005 and instrumental music at the Canadian Conservatory for Music and Arts and at the Weldon Park Academy (London). In 2019, Maestro Alexander was elected Artistic Director of the Toronto International Music Competition, a charitable organization with a mission to provide opportunities for young musicians to perform, conduct and create music while receiving professional guidance from leading experts at prestigious Canadian music and educational institutions. He was Canada's representative on the Board of Directors of the International Conductors Guild (2002-2008), a member of the London Arts Council (1999-2001) and the Chamber Music Institute of Southern Ontario (2004-2006). In 2007, he was appointed advisor to the Conductors Guild's International Conductors workshop, led by Maestro Jorma Panula (Finland) and Maestro Raffi Armenian (Canada). In the same year he he was appointed Chair of the first International conference for conductors in Toronto. Between 2000 - 2020, Kristian Alexander has given over a 1,000 bursaries and scholarships to neurodiverse children and children from low-income families to help them learning a musical instruments. He is a member of the Symphony Orchestra Association of Canada, the American Federation of Musicians, the American Symphony Orchestra League, the Conductors Guild, the Canadian Friends of Glenn Gould Society, and Interkulturelle Gesellschaft (Switzerland).