Alexander Ayers
A native of Waukesha, Wisconsin, Alexander Ayers joined the MSO in 2013. He was previously a member of the Madison Symphony Orchestra. After studying nine years at the String Academy of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with Darcy Drexler, Alex studied at Indiana University under Mimi Zweig, Alex Kerr, and Jorja Fleezanis. While at IU, he was nominated for a Performer’s Certificate and held the positions of principal second violin and concertmaster in the Concert and Symphony Orchestras. He has performed collaboratively with Joshua Bell, Alex Kerr, Jaime Laredo, Gilles Apap, and Soovin Kim at IU.
Alex was a member of the Indiana University String Academy’s Violin Virtuosi ensemble for two years, performing in the group’s concert tours to France and Argentina. He has attended several summer music festivals, including the IU Summer String Academy, Innsbrook Institute, and Madeline Island Chamber Music Camp. He enjoys playing string quartets, and has been influenced by ensembles including the Arianna, Jupiter, Enso, Shanghai, Fry Street, Orion, and Pacifica quartets. Alex’s quartet from Madeline Island was invited to perform two consecutive years at the Landmark Center in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Alex was a semifinalist in both the 2010 WAMSO Young Artist Competition and the 2009 Lennox Young Artist Competition, and won the grand prize of the MSO Stars of Tomorrow Competition in 2006; this resulted in performances of Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with the MSO.