Violinist Alexander Giger is no stranger to variety. Performing repertoire ranging from Biber to Golijov, Alex is quickly gaining an international reputation as a multi-faceted ensemble musician. He has collaborated with and played among such ensembles as the Quad Cities Symphony, National Philharmonic, Britten Sinfonia, Orpheus Sinfonia, London Sinfonietta, Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, and National Symphony Orchestra. A former NSO Young Associate, Alex received coachings from professional orchestral musicians at the highest caliber. Alex has performed in many public masterclasses, most notably for Cho-Liang Lin and Gil Shaham. Alex has received scholarships to perform at many music festivals, including the Meadowmount School, the National Orchestral Institute, the St. Endellion Easter Festival, and the Aspen Music Festival and School, where he studied with Paul Kantor. Alex Giger enjoys a varied musical career on violin/viola that spans across chamber music, orchestra, new music, old music, and teaching. Currently based between Chicago and Washington D.C., Alex currently plays as a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and as the Assistant Concertmaster of the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra. As an accomplished orchestral musician, he has also performed most notably with the Britten Sinfonia, Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, National Philharmonic, and as a fellow at the Lucerne Festival Academy the past two years. Additionally, Alex has performed as a scholarship recipient at the New England Conservatory’s Festival Youth Orchestra, The Meadowmount School of Music, National Orchestral Institute, Aspen Music Festival, and St. Endellion Easter Festival.
Alex founded the Melanson Quartet in September 2014 as its 2nd violinist. Established at the Royal Academy of Music under its Davey-Posnanski Quartet Scheme, the quartet received high commendations and performed for the Schubert Society of Britain and in masterclasses and workshops at the 2015 Wigmore Hall String Quartet competition. His quartet playing has also garnered numerous awards and honors recitals at the University of Maryland, and has performed Mendelssohn’s String Octet in collaboration with members of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. He continues to perform chamber music with his Civic Orchestra colleagues around Chicago.
A native of Washington DC, Alex recently earned his L.RAM diploma in teaching. He graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in London, studying under the tutelage of Sophie Langdon. Additionally, he studied Baroque Violin with Elizabeth Wallfisch, and viola with James Sleigh. Alex has previously studied with Phyllis Freeman at the Peabody Preparatory, and with James Stern the University of Maryland. He is currently completing his L.RAM in teaching. At UMD, Alex received of the Creative and Performing Arts Scholarship, the Wallace Loh Music Scholarship, and the President’s Scholarship. Alex has held a private teaching studio for many years, where his students have earned successes from merits on ABRSM examinations to admission to collegiate-level music degree programs. He believes that introducing questions and stimulating critical thought during the lesson can profoundly benefit one’s musical, intellectual, and spiritual development. In his spare time, Alex enjoys reading, biking, and yoga. He is currently pursuing his 200HR RYT certification, and his goal of completing every book written by Haruki Murakami. |