Alexandra Fol Homepage

Born on 11. VII. 1981 in Sofia, Bulgaria

Education:

B. Mus. in composition summa cum laude from Boston University, 2002.
Master of Music in composition, Eastman School of Music, 2004.
Doctor of Music in composition candidate, McGill University

Member of International Society of Contemporary Music, Golden Key International Honour Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honour Society.

Composition teachers include Gheorgi Arnaoudov, Julian Wachner, Richard Cornell, Robert Morris, David Liptak.
Conducting teachers include Julian Wachner and Theodore Antoniou.
Organ teachers include Julian Wachner, James David Christie, David Higgs.
Organ improvisation teachers include Julian Wachner, William Porter.
Piano teachers include Milena Mollova, Anthony di Bonaventura.

Employment:

Organ Scholar at Marsh Chapel at Boston University, September 2001 – May 2002. Sunday services broadcasted live on the WBUR radio station, FM 90,9, New England. Organist at Webster Baptist Church, a United States National Historic Monument, 2002-2004. Weekly Eastman correspondent for "The Campus Times", University of Rochester’s weekly newspaper, September 2003 - May 2004.

Published by Musica Publishing House since 2003.

Scholar of Open Society International Foundation, St. St. Cyril and Methodius International Foundation, Europa Antiqua International Foundation, the Trustees of Boston University, Eastman School of Music.

Foreign languages:

Bulgarian (native language), German, English, French, Macedonian; Working knowledge in Russian, Serbian, Italian;

Releases on CD:

November 2001: "We praise thee, O God" – Boston University Marsh Chapel Choir in concert. Scott Jarrett, Music director; Joshua Slater, conductor; Alexandra Fol, organ;
November 2001: "Requiem" – Alexandra Fol in concert. Alexandra Fol – composer and conductor; Boston University and MIT students’ orchestra; Standing Wave Audio Productions 2001.
December 2001: Marsh Chapel Choir Christmas CD; Scott Jarrett, Music Director, Alexandra Fol, organ; Standing Wave Audio Productions 2001.
April 2002: Alexandra Fol conducting Leonid Iogansen and Pierre Max Dubois; Standing Wave Audio Productions 2002.
Scheduled CD release of "Cinderella – the fairy tale" by the Bulgarian National Radio Orchestra in their 2004/2005 recording season.

More important Composition prizes:

1994 First prize at the National Composition Contest "The child and the family", organized by the papal nuncio in Bulgaria. 1994 One of the 12 composers-laureates of "The Second International World Children’s Music Festival", Tachikawa, Japan. 1999 One of the 10 composition fellows of the Young Artists Composition Program of the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, Massachusetts, USA.

Current projects:

Cantata "In the name of..." to be performed in December 2004 in Rochester, NY, by ensemble Music Nova with Brad Lubman conducting;
Organ concert in "St. Andrew and St. Paul's Church" in Montreal, Canada;
Bass Clarinet concerto: "A Swan Song for the Impossible Love", written for Anna Reguero, to be performed in November 2004 in Rochester, NY;
Choral work commissioned by Smith College and conductor Deanna Joseph;
Recording of "Cinderella - the fairy tale" by the Bulgarian National Radio Orchestra with conductor Michalis Economou.

Important artistic activities:

Soloist of "Ars Musica" chamber orchestra, Shoumen Philhamrmony orchestra, State Academy of Music Philharmony orchestra; Recitals in Bulgaria, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, United States and Canada; Composition, organ and piano master classes, including Composition Master class under the leadership of Prof. Rudolf Kelterborn within the frames of the festival "musicEXchange", organized by "Soros" Center for the Arts. Commissions by "Hors" String quartet, Organizing committee of American Music Week in Bulgaria (two), "St. St. Cyril and Methodius International Foundation", private commissions for Concert piece for Clarinet solo, Viola Concerto, Violin and Trombone duet, etc. Compositions performed in Bulgaria, United States, Japan and Germany.

1994: Two songs for voice and orchestra by Alexandra Fol performed by Tokyo Symphony Orchestra within the frames of the Second International World Children’s Music Festival in Tachikawa, Japan.
1999: Opening piano recital for the Bulgarian Cultural Days in Deggendorf, Bavaria, Germany;
1999: Piano Concerto by Alexandra Fol performed by Young Artists Orchestra on a reading in Tanglewood. Julian Wachner conducting, Alexandra Fol, soloist;
2000: Almost Bach – Toccata and fugue for chamber orchestra performed by a students’ ensemble, Boston.
2001: Violin Concerto by Alexandra Fol performed by Boston University Chamber Orchestra in Tsai Performance Center. Leonid Iogansen, soloist, Richard Cornell, conductor.
2001: Requiem for Mixed Chorus, Chamber Orchestra and Organ performed on November 10th. Boston University and MIT students’ orchestra. Alexandra Fol conducting.
2001: Participant in McGill Organ Academy in Montreal, Canada.
2002: One of five participants in the Stratford Summer Music Organ Academy under the leadership of Jean-Pierre Leguay. Concert in Knox Presbyterian Church, Stratford.
2002: Ossia New Music features works by composer Joji Yuasa. Alexandra Fol – conducor, Justin Caulley – producer.
2002: "Frenzi" – Piano and Clarinet Piece commissioned by "St. St. Cyril and Methodius foundation" and performed in the American University in Washington, DC, Carnegie Hall, New York, Rochester, NY.
2003: "Cinderella – the fairy tale" – read by the Eastman Philharmonia, Brad Lubman conducting.
2003: Composition recital in Kilbourn Hall, Rochester, November 8th 2003.
2003: Masterclass with composer Helmut Lachenmann, Toronto, Canada.
2004: Recitals in Third Presbyterian Church in Rochester, featuring 6 world premieres for organ solo (25th of March), Irondeqoit United Church of Christ (16th of April), Irondeqoit, Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul, Montreal, Canada (26th of August) and others.
2004: "And This is a Fugue!" - for two pianos performed in Bulgaria and Switzerland.
2004: Cantata "In the name of…" to be performed by Musica Nova Ensemble in Rochester on Dec. 1st 2004.

Publications:

Fol, Al. 1997. The musical critic - destiny and classification. Music. Yesterday. Today. 6th issue, pages 20-30.
Fol, Al. 1998. Genius and talent - essence and attitude. Music. Yesterday. Today. 6th issue, pages 27-31, 50-58.
Fol, Al. 1999. I and the new millennium. AzBuki. 3rd issue, page 12.
Fol, Al. 1999. Statement concerning the "musicEXchange" festival. Musica Viva. 3rd issue, page 5.
Fol, Al. 1999. Genius and talent - essence and attitude. AzBuki. 14 th issue, page 13 (reprint).
Fol, Al. 1999. Democratic art? AzBuki. 42nd issue, page 13.
Fol, Al. 1999. The teacher - the person, who conducts. Zname. 83rd (5482nd) issue, page 2.
Fol, Al. 1999 MusicEXchange 29 XI-5 XII. Musica Viva. 21st issue, page 5.
Fol, Al. 1999 MusicEXchange 29 XI-5 XII (continuation from 21st issue). Musica Viva. 22nd issue, page 5.
Fol, Al. 2000 To Boston and… forwards. Musica Viva. 36th issue, page 1, 12.
Fol, Al. 2000 Perspective. The Daily Free Press. Issue of Nov. 27th.
Fol, Al. 2001 "Style and un-style. Music. Yesterday. Today. 6th issue, pages 27-29, 35-39.
Fol, Al. 2002 "The Politics of the Artist". Music. Yesterday. Today. 2nd issue, pages 64-74.
Fol, Al. 2002 "Dear Homeland, you are Paradise on Earth". AzBuki (under print).
Fol, Al. 2004 "Musical educational systems". Music. Yesterday. Today. 1st issue

Weekly articles in "The Campus Times" from September 2003 until May 2004.

Reviews and important programmes:

Review from "Plattlinger Anzeiger", Deggendorf, Germany;
Poster for my Carnegie Hall premiere;
Requiem CD cover;
Mucologist Samuel Dorf's commentary on the pieces from the Requiem CD;
Iogansen's and Dubois' CD cover;
Bulgarian-Swiss cultural exchange festival - programme cover with commissioners' list
Bilingual programme for the Bulgarian-Swiss Festival;

Honor Diplomas:

Master of Music diploma; Golden Key; Collegiate Scholars; Pi Kappa Lambda;