The instrumental and electroacoustic music of composer and sound artist Alexandra Gardner combines explorations into the rich details of acoustic sound with a visceral percussive energy to create sonic landscapes of shifting rhythms and unfolding aural textures.
Gardner's compositions have been featured throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia, including performances at the Aspen Music Festival, Akiyoshidae International Art Village, Centro de Cultura Contemporania de Barcelona, Centro Cultural Conde Duque, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Joyce SOHO, Dance Place, The Library of Congress and The Kennedy Center. She has collaborated with such performers as accordionist Teodoro Anzelotti, Percussions de Barcelona, trombonist Monique Buzzarté, SOLI Chamber Ensemble, flutist Barbara Held and bass clarinet virtuoso Harry Sparnaay.
A native of Washington, DC, she studied music composition at Vassar College, the California Institute of the Arts, and The Peabody Conservatory of Music.
Among Gardner's honors and awards are recognitions and commissions from the American Composers Forum, the American Music Center, ASCAP, the Mid-America Arts Alliance, the Maryland State Arts Council, Meet the Composer, Vassar College and the University of Delaware New Music Competition, SOLI Chamber Ensemble, CrossSound Music Festival, Deborah Riley Dance Projects, the Open Meadows Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution. She has been a composer-in-residence at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, Harvestworks Digital Media Arts Center, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange and The MacDowell Colony. From 2002-2004 she was a Visiting Composer at the IUA/Phonos Foundation in Barcelona, Spain.