SYMPHONY CHOIR OF CAPE TOWN
MUSIC DIRECTOR
LEVI ALEXANDER
LEVI ALEXANDER (MMus (c.l.) Cho. Cond. (US), BMus Sax Perf (UCT), LTCL (Sax)) graduated with cum laude with a Masters in Music specialising in Choral Conducting from Stellenbosch University under the mentorship of Dr Martin Berger. The degree required regular attendance at rehearsals of, and performing with, the Stellenbosch University Schola Cantorum Choir. His thesis addressed the “Plight of Anglican Music in the Western Cape” through three case studies
He started his formal musical tuition in saxophone at the Hugo Lambrechts Music Centre in and progressed to study a Bachelor’s Degree of Music in baritone saxophone performance and conducting at the South African College of Music (UCT) (2015). He completed his Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Rhodes) in 2022 specialising in High School Creative Arts and Music Education.
His first teaching experience was with the Cape Philharmonic Youth Music Academy. He was the student assistant conductor of the University of Cape Town Symphonic Wind Band and Symphony Orchestra (2012 to 2014), assistant conductor of the Beau Soleil Senior Wind Band and educator at the music centre up until the end of 2015, resident conductor of the University of the Western Cape Symphonic Wind Orchestra (2014 to 2017) and the assistant conductor of the Symphony Choir of Cape Town (2015-2021). He served as Interregnum Music Assistant at St George’s Grammar School while St George’s Cathedral appointed their new music director in 2013.
He also conducts and directs The Royal Crusaders Christmas Band (since 2006), a community marching band based in Bellville and was appointed the Director of Music of the Peninsula and District Christmas Bands Union (2010-2013). He was an ad hoc saxophone teacher at the South African College of Music (UCT) as of 2020 and appointed the Classical Saxophone lecturer as of January 2022.
He has performed as the guest conductor of the South African National Youth Orchestra String Ensemble (SANYO) (2014), the National Youth Wind Orchestra of Zimbabwe in the annual Zimbabwean National Music Camp (2014), the Windworx Symphonic Wind Ensemble (2016), the Philharmonia Choir of Cape Town and the University of Cape Town Wind Ensemble (2019).
He was invited as the Competition Adjudicator of the SACS Junior School Edwards Cup Instrumental Music Competition (2016 and 2018), the Cape Winelands Christmas Band Union Competition (2018), the Bishops Diocesan College High School Eisteddfod (2018), the Kaapse Afrikaanse Eisteddfod Ensemble Category 2021 and 2022, the Kaapse Afrikaanse Eisteddfod Choir Category 2023, and the Johann Voss Music Competition Preliminary Rounds 2023.
Levi has been a multi-woodwind-instrumentalist in the musical orchestras of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society musical productions at Artscape, Cape Town, is an ad hoc saxophonist to the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and performed baritone saxophone in The PHAX Trio (an all-genre virtuosic chamber music ensemble founded in 2011 by three alumni principal players of SANYO). He has toured Europe with various chamber music ensembles throughout his high school and university studies.
He has performed in the MIAGI Music Festival Big Band, South African National Schools Big Band, South African National Youth Wind Ensemble and Orchestra (SANYO), Cape Philharmonic Youth Wind Ensemble and Orchestra, Artscape Youth Jazz Festival, Artscape National Youth Music Competition, University of Cape Town Symphony Orchestra and Amici Choir. He was a long-standing member of the Audivi Vocal Ensemble and St George’s Cathedral (Cape Town) Evensong and Chamber Choirs. He is currently a member of the True Voices ad hoc, Cape Consort ad hoc and the St Michaels and All Angels Anglican Church Choir.
Levi is currently the Departmental Head of Music at the SACS High School (2021) where he started working in January 2015.
He fills the roles of Concert Band and Marching Band Director. The SACS Concert Band participated in the Mid Europe Wind Band Festival in Schladming, Austria, where they competed in the top international wind band competition in 2017. They look forward to competiting again in 2024.
Appointed Director of the Symphony Choir of Cape Town in 2021, Levi hopes to grow both the SACS Music Department and Symphony Choir of Cape Town, his two primary focus areas, to continue to raise the high standard produced over the coming years.
Levi completed his Postgraduate Certificate in Education through Rhodes University in 2022 and is a true advocate for continuous part-time study and professional development.
