Alexander Fokkens, The Symphony Choir’s Musical Director

Alex Fokkens

The Symphony Choir is fortunate indeed to have Alexander Fokkens, one of Cape Town’s rising musical stars, as its Director. He communicates his own love of music, and the Choir has learned to respond to his interpretations in a way that makes for exciting and dynamic performances.

South African born conductor, Alexander Fokkens, was recently appointed the Artistic Director of the Free State Symphony Orchestra in Bloemfontein. He also holds the positions of Resident Conductor at the University of the Cape Town; Music Director of the Symphony Choir of Cape Town; Resident Conductor of the Cape Philharmonic Youth Orchestra; Adjunct Lecturer in Double Bass at the University of Cape Town; and General Music Director of the Swakopmund Musikwoche in Namibia.

  Alexander received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Double Bass from the University of Cape Town and his Masters Degree in Double Bass Performance and additional studies in Theory and Conducting at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.

  As a student he often appeared to critical acclaim with the UCT Symphony Orchestra and Opera School; and served as the Assistant Conductor for orchestras at TCU as well as an Adjunct Faculty member.

 From 1999 – 2005 he served as Director of Orchestral Activities and conductor of the Aberdeen University / Civic Symphony in Aberdeen, South Dakota; and from 2001 – 2003 served as conductor for the Fargo Moorhead Area Youth Symphony in Fargo, North Dakota.

 He has served as a guest conductor for numerous orchestras and festivals in the USA and Africa; conducting, amongst others, the Latien Weed Honours Orchestra (South Dakota, USA), the Kwazulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, Cape Town Opera, JMI Orchestra, the Black Tie Opera company, Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, South African National Youth Concert Orchestra, Free State Symphony Orchestra and Youth Orchestra; and the Chamber Orchestra of South Africa. In August 2006, he made his European conducting debut, conducting Joplin’s opera Treemonisha in La Turbie, France.

 He strives to collaborate with as many different musicians from as many different backgrounds as possible. Recently performed works include composers Jeanne Zaidel Rudolf, Robert Fokkens, Francois Sarhan; and collaboration with the Fazeka High School Choir, Rap Artist/Poet Tumi Molekane and Poet/Musician Koos Kombuis.

 His conducting teachers include Omri Hadari, Gerard Korsten and German Gutierrez. He has participated in master classes with Henry Charles Smith, William LaRue Jones, Jorge Mester, Joann Falletta, Leslie B. Dunner and Ron Spiegelman.

 He currently lives in Cape Town with his wife, pianist Margaret Foxcroft, and their four children.