Alex Yoder (b. 1985, Fort Wayne, Indiana) is a composer currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in Composition at the Ithaca College School of Music in Ithaca, New York where he studies with Dana Wilson and holds a graduate assistantship. He holds an undergraduate degree in Music Education from Ball State University. Alex’s musical interests are quite diverse, having written for wind symphony, orchestra, chamber ensembles, incidental music, electronica, and competition marching bands.
His music has been performed across the United States, including premieres at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts’ Chamber Music Series. Recently, a new fanfare was premiered by the Boston Brass and Alex’s arrangement of “Get Happy” was performed live on NBC during the 2010 broadcast of the Macy’s Thanksgivings Day Parade.
Alex has also delved into web application development, having created Ututti.com, a school music program administration solution.
Shows
Colors of America
Although the title might suggest it, this is not a typical patriotic show. It gets its inspiration from the colors portrayed in America the Beautiful, not the American flag as one might think. Each movement takes a part of the melody that describes something with color, and bases its thematic material on that motive. For example, the first movement is based on the notes in “amber waves of grain” and should visually portray the color – amber. The second is “purple mountain majesty”, and the third is “sea to shining sea”. The music itself does not carry the typical patriotic sound, rather, it tries to deal honestly and openly with both the triumphant and the troublesome aspects of America and its history.
Declaration
Concept: An original composition that starts with a reverent, contemporary tone (‘Taps’ introduction is optional), then flows through a gentle ballad and into a sharply contrasting closer with a triumphant finale. Could be used as a patriotic show, but would work in a different context as well. Includes percussion parts.
Deliverance
Concept: An Egyptian/Middle East flavored show. Originally used to tell the story of the ancient Hebrews’ escape from Egyptian slavery and the parting of the Red Sea. Features technical sections for the saxophones, world percussion, and optional synthesizer parts for ethnic string instrument parts. Full wind and pit book.
Fantastique
Concept: A four movement show which combines recognizable moments and themes from Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique with original material. The show is based on the idea of contrasting the “old” with the “new” and weaving the two together. The visual program could be all about contrasts – color, geometry, or perhaps something more abstract like the contrasts of the past vs. the present vs. the future.
