Alex McQuiston
Alex is Music Service's new Cello Tutor in the North of the County. He first started to learn the Cello growing up in Annan, just over the border. He is Director of the Absolute Classics series of chamber concerts, bringing the best young musical talent to Dumfries and Galloway, and winner of the Dumfries and Galloway Life Culture Champion of the Year award 2015.
How and when did you first become interested in music? I first began to sing when I was very young and at the age of about 9 took up the piano and then the cello. I remember going to hear a concert where someone played the cello and I insisted that I took it up straight away. I think I started the following week…
How did you get to work in music? After completing my studies at the Royal Northern College of Music and then in Switzerland at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana. I returned home to Scotland where I set up my private studio. I continued to perform and started to organise more concerts than I could perform in around the region. This very quickly developed into Absolute Classics which now runs around 40 concerts a year, an extensive education and outreach programme and the International Musicians Platform - a ten festival and international summer school in August each year.
What’s the best thing about your job? Music, I get to do what I love and I am passionate about, I get to teach it, perform it and bring others together to perform it.
What’s your most memorable musical experience? Performing at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Konzerthause in Berlin.
What are your other interests? Cars, I love cars.
What are your top tips for young musicians? Work very hard, focus on becoming the best and always strive to be better. In addition, make sure that you are always presenting yourelf at your best, you never know who you could be talking to after a concert, they may book you for your next gig, or agree to support you in future studies.
How and when did you first become interested in music? I first began to sing when I was very young and at the age of about 9 took up the piano and then the cello. I remember going to hear a concert where someone played the cello and I insisted that I took it up straight away. I think I started the following week…
How did you get to work in music? After completing my studies at the Royal Northern College of Music and then in Switzerland at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana. I returned home to Scotland where I set up my private studio. I continued to perform and started to organise more concerts than I could perform in around the region. This very quickly developed into Absolute Classics which now runs around 40 concerts a year, an extensive education and outreach programme and the International Musicians Platform - a ten festival and international summer school in August each year.
What’s the best thing about your job? Music, I get to do what I love and I am passionate about, I get to teach it, perform it and bring others together to perform it.
What’s your most memorable musical experience? Performing at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Konzerthause in Berlin.
What are your other interests? Cars, I love cars.
What are your top tips for young musicians? Work very hard, focus on becoming the best and always strive to be better. In addition, make sure that you are always presenting yourelf at your best, you never know who you could be talking to after a concert, they may book you for your next gig, or agree to support you in future studies.