"Music is my passion, my profession, my art form, my delight."
Conductor Composer College Professor Choral Clinician Choral Adjudicator Arts Administrator Arts Advocate |
Acclaimed for the quality of her music making and expertise in conducting,
Marina Alexander leads a life full of music and the wonderful people and experiences that it brings. A graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Marina has distinguished herself as a performer, interpreter, teacher, scholar, and community arts leader. |
|
On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, Marina moderated the "BIG NJ SING 2024," the annual open sing of the NJ Choral Consortium. Featured repertory: Mozart's Requiem and Ave verum corpus. |
On Sunday, Apr. 14, 2024, Marina moderated
"Social Media 202," an online workshop
hosted by the NJ Choral Consortium.
The presenter was Kenny Litvack.,
chorus management specialist for Chorus Connection.
On Sunday, Apr. 14, 2024, Marina moderated
"Social Media 202," an online workshop
hosted by the NJ Choral Consortium.
The presenter was Kenny Litvack.,
chorus management specialist for Chorus Connection.
On Sat., Apr. 6, 2024,
Marina moderated
"Voice Activated!"
a LIVE vocal workshop
hosted by Richmond Choral Society (RCS)
of Staten Island, NYC.
The presenter was noted conductor, baritone,
educator, and clinician
Cailin Marcel Manson.
Marina moderated
"Voice Activated!"
a LIVE vocal workshop
hosted by Richmond Choral Society (RCS)
of Staten Island, NYC.
The presenter was noted conductor, baritone,
educator, and clinician
Cailin Marcel Manson.
On Sunday, Nov. 12 2023, Marina moderated
"The Aging Voice,"
an online workshop hosted by the
NJ Choral Consortium.
The presenter was noted author,
scholar, and performer
Karen Brunssen.
On Sunday, Nov. 12 2023, Marina moderated
"The Aging Voice,"
an online workshop hosted by the
NJ Choral Consortium.
The presenter was noted author,
scholar, and performer
Karen Brunssen.
Two of Marina's compositions were presented in St. Louis at the Composers and Arrangers Symposium of the National Federation of Greek orthodox Church Musicians. Her setting of The Beatitudes retains the original Byzantine chant in Greek answered antiphonally by a 4-part Western-style chorus singing in English. The other work, Goodness and Mercy-Psalm 23, reverses that relationship, with the chant presentedr by mezzo-soprano soloist in English, answered by the chorus singing in Greek in a more traditional Byzantine style, culminating in a synthesis of the two ideals. FTo hear examples and see scores, please visit the COMPOSITIONS page of this site.
On Sunday, March 25, 2023, Marina moderatd
"Maintaining a Healthy Voice," an online workshop
hosted by the NJ Choral Consortium.
The presenter was acclaimed soprano Lucy Fitz Gibbon.
On Sat., March 25, 2023, Marina moderated
"Discover Your Best Voice!" -- an all-day workshop
hosted by
Richmond Choral Society on Staten Island.
The session was be led by clinicians from the
McClosky Institute of Voice.
On Mon., June 13, 2022 Marina was a participating conductor in the NY Choral Consortium's "Big Sing 2022", an annual event, at the very beautiful Church of St. Vincent Ferrrer in Manhattan. The chorus and guest soloists sang through selections from Haydn's Creation.
Marina presented her seminar,
"Music & Meaning: Becoming the Words"
as part of Richmond Choral Society's
Spring 2022 workshop,
"Vocal Tips & Tricks for Singers."
|
Marina's newest composition,
River and Tree, is now available!! It's World Premiere was performed virtually by The Arcadian Chorale & Richmond Choral Society on YouTube on June 10, 2021. It was performed live by Richmond Choral Society in May 2023 as part of their Spring program, "Wonder Women!" To take a look, please click here. |
Marina was one of the participating conductors
in the 2021 Ocean Grove Choral Festival, held in the
Great Auditorium on
Sunday, July 11.
in the 2021 Ocean Grove Choral Festival, held in the
Great Auditorium on
Sunday, July 11.
Marina acted as Moderator for a unique online form offered by the
NJ Choral Consortium on Sun., Nov. 22:
"Still Singing! NJ Choruses in the Time of COVID."
“Tips and Tricks for Vocalizing During COVID-19”
ONLINE Webinar - Monday, September 14th from 3:00 - 4:30 pm
Marina was featured as one of the presenters for a special online workshop sponsored by the Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians. Her topic covered "How to Breathe When Singing."
ONLINE Webinar - Monday, September 14th from 3:00 - 4:30 pm
Marina was featured as one of the presenters for a special online workshop sponsored by the Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians. Her topic covered "How to Breathe When Singing."
Marina's was recently featured as a composer at
Chorus America's 2020 Virtual Conference.
NOTE: this workshop, originally set for March 28, 2020 was caceled due to the COVID pandemic.
On Sat.., May 23, 2020 Marina will moderate Richmond Choral Society's Spring Workshop "Vocal Mastery" featuring MASTER TEACHER Chrissellene G. Petropoulos.
The full day workshop and master class is FREE and includes lunch.
It will be held at New Dorp Moravian Church,
2205 Richmond Road, Staten Island, NY.
On Sat.., May 23, 2020 Marina will moderate Richmond Choral Society's Spring Workshop "Vocal Mastery" featuring MASTER TEACHER Chrissellene G. Petropoulos.
The full day workshop and master class is FREE and includes lunch.
It will be held at New Dorp Moravian Church,
2205 Richmond Road, Staten Island, NY.
Marina's composition, Sun of Righteousness, was performed in
Dec. 2019 as part of Richmond Choral Society's holiday program,
"Eternal Light!"
On, Nov. 2, 2019 Marina moderated NJ Choral Consortium's Fall 2019 workshop, "Sing We & Chant It!"
This exploration of Early Music was led by Dr. Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek, a member of the Grammy Award winning ensemble, Anonymous 4 and presently director of Early Music Princeton at Princeton University.
On Mon., June 17, 2019 Marina moderated NJ Choral Consortium's " 2019 Big NJ Sing!", an annual event.
Faurée's Requiem and Vivladi's Gloria were the featured works. Marina currently serves as President of NJCC.
Faurée's Requiem and Vivladi's Gloria were the featured works. Marina currently serves as President of NJCC.
On Sat., Apr. 6, 2019, Marina moderated "Move to the Music," a special workshop exploring musical rhythm through movement, led by Dr. William Bauer, Executive Director of the Dalcroze Society of America.
The event was hosted by the Richmond Choral Society, Staten Island.
On Jan. 26, 2019, Marina was once again elected President of the NJ Choral Consortium at that organization's Annual Meeting, held in Highland Park, NJ.
She also participated as a panelist in a special forum: "Succession Planning, or How to Keep Your Chorus Humming!"
She also participated as a panelist in a special forum: "Succession Planning, or How to Keep Your Chorus Humming!"
On Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 Marina was the Guest Conductor for a choral reading of Carl Orff's 20th c. masterwork, Carmina Burana.
Presented by the Princeton Society of Musical Amateurs. With full orchestra.
On Sat., Nov. 3, 2018, Marina moderated "Move to the Music!" an exciting workshop exploring singing via rhythm and movement.
The clinician was Dr. William Bauer, Executive Director of the Dalcroze Society of America.
The event was sponsored by the NJ Choral Consortium.
The clinician was Dr. William Bauer, Executive Director of the Dalcroze Society of America.
The event was sponsored by the NJ Choral Consortium.
On Sun., Apr. 29, 2019 Marina moderated an exceptional workshop, "Alexander Technique for Singers," led by esteemed clinician and master teacher Valerie VanHoven.
The event was hosted by the NJ Choral Consortium, which Marina currently serves as President.
The event was hosted by the NJ Choral Consortium, which Marina currently serves as President.
On Sat.,, Apr. 21, 2018, Marina acted as Moderator for a very special workshop sponsored by Richmond Choral Society on Staten Island.
"Voice Journey" explored the mind-body connection in singing, challenging singers to open their awareness to sound as vibration and the process of actively hearing.
Marina led The Arcadian Chorale is a Special Gala Concert on Oct. 27, 2017, to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Perth Amboy, NJ. On that occasion, the group sang excerpts from Nicolas Astrinidis' oratorio, St. Demetrius, plus the World Premieres of two new works by Marina.
Demetrios, A Worthy Champion is based on the original Byzantine apolytikion (hymn) of St. Demetrios.
The piece is set in Greek and English, for Tenor and Bass soli, plus SATB Chorus & piano.
Great in Spirit, Small in Years is a tribute to St. Nestor, a Christian martyr and key figure in the story and martyrdom of St. Demetrios. It is also based on the original Byzantine apolytikion, set in Greek and English, for Soprano, Tenor, and Bass soli, plus SATB Chorus & piano.
Demetrios, A Worthy Champion is based on the original Byzantine apolytikion (hymn) of St. Demetrios.
The piece is set in Greek and English, for Tenor and Bass soli, plus SATB Chorus & piano.
Great in Spirit, Small in Years is a tribute to St. Nestor, a Christian martyr and key figure in the story and martyrdom of St. Demetrios. It is also based on the original Byzantine apolytikion, set in Greek and English, for Soprano, Tenor, and Bass soli, plus SATB Chorus & piano.
Marina's composition, Gabriel from Heaven Came, was performed in Dec. 2018 as part of Arcadian Chorale's holiday program, "The Trumpet Will Sound!" It was also heard on Dec. 16, 2017 by Richmond Choral Society as part of its program, "Holiday in Brass."
The work had its World Premiere on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015 as part of the Metropolitan Greek Chorale's fall program, "There Were Angels." The piece is based on the Basque carol, The Angel Gabriel, and is for 4-voice chorus plus piano. For this year's performance, Marina is creating a new orchestration of her piece for brass quintet.
Marina also created an orchestration of Felix Mendelssohn's beautiful Te Deum in A Major, WoO 29. It was premiered in her concert with the Richmond Choral Society, "Heaven & Nature Sing!" on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015 on Staten Island.
The work had its World Premiere on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015 as part of the Metropolitan Greek Chorale's fall program, "There Were Angels." The piece is based on the Basque carol, The Angel Gabriel, and is for 4-voice chorus plus piano. For this year's performance, Marina is creating a new orchestration of her piece for brass quintet.
Marina also created an orchestration of Felix Mendelssohn's beautiful Te Deum in A Major, WoO 29. It was premiered in her concert with the Richmond Choral Society, "Heaven & Nature Sing!" on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015 on Staten Island.
Marina's composition, Out of the Depths, received its World Premiere on Sat., June 4, 2016 in Manhattan, as part of the Metropolitan Greek Chorale's Spring program, "Blessed are They Who Sing!" The piece combines the traditional Gregorian chant of Psalm 130, De profundis, with Byzantine chant of Psalm 141, Lord I cried out to Thee, and is in both Latin and Greek.
Marina's holiday composition, Sancte, Sancte Nicolas, was performed December 2015 in two locations, including a European premiere:
- In late November 2015, in the Netherlands
(Utrecht and Amersfoort),
by the Amer Consort & Trajecti Voices. - In December, in Wellesley, MA by the St. Paul's Adult Choir, St. Paul Parish.
Marina's settings of Greek folk songs, Yerakina and Karagouna, were performed summer 2015 by the New Amsterdam Singers during their tour to Greece.
Marina's orchestration of Bainton's And I Saw a New Heaven, which premiered at Carnegie Hall in 2002, was performed in mid-December 2015 in North Carolina by the Moore County Choral Society.
Marina has created new orchestrations for several of the choral movements of Gustav Holst's magnificent
Hymns from the Rig Veda.
Calling for a chamber orchestra of oboe, bassoon, horns, trumpets, trombones, and strings, the pieces were premiered as part of "Music from Across the Pond," her Spring 2015 program with the Richmond Choral Society (NYC), with performances on Staten Island and in Brooklyn.
Hymns from the Rig Veda.
Calling for a chamber orchestra of oboe, bassoon, horns, trumpets, trombones, and strings, the pieces were premiered as part of "Music from Across the Pond," her Spring 2015 program with the Richmond Choral Society (NYC), with performances on Staten Island and in Brooklyn.
On May 12, 2015 as part of its Spring recital, Marina'a college choir, the College of Staten Island Chorus, sang her composition, Her Ways, originally written in 2007, and recently revised.
The text is from Proverbs 3:17.
The text is from Proverbs 3:17.
In Dec. 2014, several of Marina's compositions were premiered in New York, as part of the Metropolitan Greek Chorale's fall program, "Faith, Myth, & Song: Christmas in Greece."
Her piece, Christmas Church Bells (Christougenna to Kampanario)
takes a traditional carol telling of churtch bells ringing in the Christmas holiday in a village to a delightful piece for 4-part chorus and piano.
takes a traditional carol telling of churtch bells ringing in the Christmas holiday in a village to a delightful piece for 4-part chorus and piano.
|
For the same program, Marina created a new work based on a Byzantine chant from the Forefeast of the Nativity.
The Army of Angels tells of the appearance of the angelic host to the shepherds,as they herald the news of Christ's birth. She has also created concert arrangements of various Greek "kalanda," and a version of Jingle Bells in Greek! |
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------