Dennis Alexander / Full Bio
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Since his original affiliation with Alfred Publishing Company in 1986 as a composer and clinician, Dennis Alexander has earned an international reputation as one of North
America's most prolific and popular composers of educational piano music for students at all levels. Professor Alexander retired from his position at the University of Montana in
May 1996 where he taught piano and piano pedagogy for 24 years. Upon moving to California, he taught privately in addition to serving on the faculties of Cal State Fullerton
and Cal State Northridge. He currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he maintains an active composing and touring schedule. He currently publishes with Hal
Leonard Corporation, the largest sheet music publisher in the world.
Professor Alexander is a native Kansan, having graduated from the University of Kansas
where he was a student of Richard Reber. In 1972, he was invited to join the faculty at the University of Montana and served as piano department chair in addition to his
teaching duties in applied piano, class piano and piano pedagogy. In 1987, he made his New York debut at Carnegie Recital Hall with violinist Walter Olivares and continues to
be active as a soloist, accompanist and chamber musician. He has served as a collaborative artist for numerous internationally recognized soloists, instrumentalists, and
chamber groups. A former president of the Montana State Music Teachers Association, he is a popular clinician at state and national music teacher conventions. In 2009, he
was invited by MTNA to conduct the intermediate level master class at their national convention in Atlanta and was invited to do so again in 2022 for the conference in
Minneapolis. Professor Alexander was a judge for "Musiquest", a national piano competition in India and has toured twice to the far East where he performed recitals and
workshops in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia and South Korea.
Over the years, numerous organizations and state associations have commissioned him
to write compositions. Many of his compositions are included in the National Federation of Music Study Clubs Festival required list and his music is being performed by students
throughout the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Asia, and Europe. One of Mr. Alexander's most significant contributions to the repertoire is "24 Character
Preludes" in all major and minor keys which includes a CD with Dennis Alexander as soloist. In 2015, he was honored by the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy
with the "Lifetime Achievement Award". He is also a co-author of an exciting and innovative piano method entitled "Alfred's Premier Piano Course". A chamber music
work, entitled "Dance Suite" for piano, violin, and cello was commissioned by MTNA in 2013. His "Nocturnes for Piano", Bks. 1 & 2 were selected as the recipient of the
prestigious 2020 MTNA/Frances Clark Pedagogy Award. Mr. Alexander's personal website, www.DennisAlexander.com has become a favorite with piano teachers and
features recordings, videos, teaching tips, and much more!