Portrait of Alex Paxton, 22 June at 7.30pm in the University for Music & the Peforming Arts Frankfurt
The British trombonist and composer Alex Paxton, born in 1990, has made a name for himself as an entertainment artist, Enfant terrible and his passion for exploring the worlds of classical and improvised music - jass and electronic music in particular. He also enjoys fiddling about with an exploring sounds and is well known for his rainbows of sound. He studied at the Royal College of Music and Royal Academy in London, has made music with all kinds of ensembles and was commissioned to write works for large scale orchestra and smaller groups, by renowned orchestras including the London Symphony, London Philharmonic and Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the WDR Sinfonieorchester, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Klangforum Wien, London Sinfonietta, ASKO Schönberg, Riot Ensemble, Explore Ensemble, Ensemble Klang and Nouvel Ensemble Contemporain. He's already written six operas (for companies including English National Opera) and is a welcome guest at festivals and concert venues including the BBC Proms, Bang on a Can Long Play, the Festival d'Automne Paris, MaerzMusik Berlin, Gaudeamus Utrecht, ECLAT Stuttgart, impuls Graz, Klangspuren Schwaz, the Wigmore Hall in London and the Aldeburgh Festival. He's also won many prizes – including the Hindemith Prize and the Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung Förder Prize (both in 2023) – and released many recordings. He describes his music as, amongst others, »like minimalism, but with many more notes; like video games, but with more song; like jazz, but more fun; like early music, but more up to date; sugar sweet, but stickier; like colours, but more scratched; like prayers, but louder and with groove...« The last Happy New Ears workshop concert this season is dedicated to this amazing chap.
