AIMES awards submissions closing on 19 January 2024

ALEXANDER VERSTER

Music Award 2015

Double Bass (25 years old) | SPONSORED BY ALBANY TOYOTA

In November 2013 Alexander first picked up the double bass. In December 2014 he was offered post-graduate places at four of the world’s best conservatories.

Unlike some, it was a long and indirect journey that resulted in Alexander becoming a classical musician. There was the usual childhood start on recorder, an attempt at the acoustic guitar and then saxophone throughout his time at Kristin School. It took another two years to find the drums and bass guitar.

Having acquired the necessary motivation and discipline for professional tuition, he became heavily involved in jazz music and achieved a very high level of technical proficiency in both instruments. This led to a number of high school competition successes and an arts scholarship during his Bachelor’s degree.

Following his degree, Alexander pursued an interest in audio engineering which allowed him to record and produce a commercial solo album of original compositions arranged for jazz quartet and orchestra.

He planned to pursue this into a long term career with international musicals, gigs and cruise ships before coming to the realisation that classical music was the only thing he wanted to do. After attending several LSO concerts in London, Alexander cemented a plan for himself to switch instruments.

Upon returning to New Zealand he rented a double bass, found a tutor and within six months was accepted into the Auckland Youth Orchestra. Two months later he earned a Distinction in Grade 8 and started performing frequently with other local orchestras and won the Gem Section of the AYO Soloist Competition before heading back to London for post-graduate auditions.

He received places in four top Conservatories and has accepted a full fees entrance scholarship to Trinity Laban Conservatoire where he has just started a Master of Fine Arts in a 2 year performance-based degree and has already been selected as principal bass for all the orchestral projects he is involved in.


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