DIS

DISCOVER! | MARCH 12, 2016
12 | Sounds
The Alexanders:
David Alexander, 15, began
his piano study at age four with
Karen Carr-Otto, and subsequently
studied with Dr. Juyeon Kang at
Northwestern College, and with
Ian Shapinsky, a graduate of Juilliard.
His current teacher is Marilyn
Schempp of Augustana University.
Competing in the South Dakota
Music Teachers Association Guild
auditions four times, David has
won First Place in both the Junior
and Senior divisions. This February
David won first place at the Genevieve
Truran Piano Competition for
9th grade at the University of South
Dakota.
John Alexander, 13, began violin
studies at age three with Marlys
Van Engen. His studies have continued
for the past ten years with
Jay Reeve in Sioux Falls. John
also attended the American Suzuki
Institute in Stevens Point, WI,
six times. John’s five years in the
SD Symphony Youth Orchestras
culminated in his promotion to
concertmaster of the Philharmonic
Orchestra. In the recent SD Music
Teachers Association competition,
John won first place in the Junior
Strings division. He is awaiting
news on his application to the Honors
Performance Series at Carnegie
Hall, to which he was nominated
by his teacher. If accepted, he will
have an opportunity to perform as
part of an orchestra in that famous
venue.
William Alexander, 11, began cello
lessons at age three and studied
for the next five years with Jay
Reeve in Sioux Falls. Since 2012,
William has studied with Dr. Karren
Melik-Stepanov of Augustana
University. He also attended the
American Suzuki Institute in Stevens
Point, WI, four times. William
played in the SD Symphony Youth
Orchestra’s Philharmonic Orchestra
for four years, serving as principal
cellist in 2013, and was chosen as
a featured soloist for their Christmas
concert. In 2014, William won
First Place in the SD Music Teachers
Association competition, Elementary
Strings division. William’s
teacher has also nominated him for
the Honors Performance Series at
Carnegie Hall.
RYLAN HOWE | STAFF WRITER
The Arts at St. Joseph
Alexander Piano Trio to perform on Palm Sunday
Classical music will echo
through the rafters of St.
Joseph Catholic Church
on the afternoon of Palm
Sunday, March 20. The Arts at
St. Joseph will present The Alexander
Piano Trio as the next
performance in the church’s
ongoing series of cultural
events.
Doors will open at 4 p.m.
with the concert slated to
begin at 4:30 p.m. and last
about 90 minutes with an
intermission. A reception will
follow in the parish center.
The concert is sponsored by
the The Patrice and Rita Leary
Foundation and United Community
Bank.
David Alexander, 15, on
piano, John Alexander, 13, on
violin, and William Alexander,
11, on cello comprise the
Alexander Piano Trio and the
brothers have been playing
as an ensemble at numerous
public and private events
throughout the Iowa Great
Lakes area for the past three
years. They are the sons of
David and Helen Alexander
of Arnolds Park.
At St. Joseph, they will be
playing an assortment of pieces
by noted composers such
as Vivaldi, Weber, Brahms
and Beethoven.
“The church has great
acoustics for cello and piano
and what they do is made perfectly
for the church,” Father
Tom Flanagan said. “They’re
wonderful young artists with
great futures ahead of them.”
While they have not performed
at the church before,
the trio has experience with a
previous performer from The
Arts at St. Joseph.
Cellist Thomas Fortner held
a master class coinciding with
his show at the church and
all three Alexanders attended
getting pointers from him as
well as his fellow musicians.
Furthermore those musicians
were hosted at the Alexander
home during their stay in the
lakes area.
The Alexander home has
been one full of music since
the boys were young. David
began piano lessons at the
age of four while his brothers
both began taking lessons
by the time they were three
years old. All three have garnered
awards and honors and
also perform with the South
Dakota Symphony Youth Orchestra.
Their mother, Helen, has
sat in on a countless number
of their lessons as well as
listening and helping them
practice at home.
She’s had a firsthand account
of the hard work that
has helped develop their
musical talents. Working with
them at home on the piano
or violin, Alexander saw them
At a Glance:
WHAT: “The Arts at St.
Joseph” presents the Alexander
Piano Trio
WHERE: St. Joseph Catholic
Church, 1305 Okoboji
Ave., Milford, IA
WHEN: Sunday, March 20
at 4:30 p.m. with reception
to follow
COST: Free will offering
CONTACT: 712-338-2274
ONLINE: www.stjosephmilford.org
develop their talents at a
quick pace.
“The kids got better too
quickly for Mom to keep
up!” Helen said with a laugh.
“Now, they all support each
other and have their chance
to show beautiful music
through teamwork.”
Memorizing hours of music
for a polished performance
requires a lot of hard work,
discipline and concentration.
All traits Helen knows
will help carry her children
through their musical careers
and any goal they seek to accomplish.
For now the next stop is St.
Joseph Catholic Church in
Milford. A place Helen described
as having a “very beautiful
and resonant sound.”
On Palm Sunday, the talented
young Alexander Piano
Trio will fill that resonant
space with the wonderful
sounds of classic composers.
Join them in the next installment
of The Arts at St.
Joseph. F
Milford | Iowa