At three years of age, Alexis’s teacher, a religious sister, bought her a keyboard from Walgreens. She spent time in her room with it. Music was part of the family environment, as in the morning before work, they listened to classical music, and in the evening, her dad turned on the radio to the jazz station.
At the age of seven and with the encouragement of a Jesuit friend, Alexis took her first piano lesson, offered by a professional pianist from the church. In third grade, her school offered orchestra classes, and she decided that she wanted to be part of it. She crafted her argument and negotiated with her school principal for a scholarship, as she already knew that piano lessons were a gift from God and that her family did not have the financial resources to pay for them.
Providence kept opening doors for her to continue her music lessons. 10 years with the Spokane Youth Symphony were possible because of generous donors. The participation with her youth symphony paid off as she kept playing from elementary school to high school. Her music teachers, Jana, Jessica, Jennifer, and Jeannette, will always be remembered as they opened the door for her to the life of a classical musician.
Alexis was able to receive private lesson scholarships from the Spokane Youth Symphony, enabling her to study with a leading Spokane violist. Alexis served as principal viola in the advanced SYS orchestra and performed in string chamber ensembles with other motivated peers while in the SYS program.
Alexis decided two years before graduating from high school in 2023 that she would continue playing viola wherever God would take her. An invitation came for her to audition in person for the oldest conservatory in the country. She did, and three semesters later, she got her official acceptance letter.
She plays with a chamber group and her string quartet every week. Her college life is filled with music, and that is because of the private lessons the youth Symphony provided through talented and passionate musicians. She is currently preparing to spend her summer researching religious women composers of the early music era.
Alexis has chosen to donate to the SYS private lesson scholarship program. Please join Alexis by supporting the private lessons fund. May God reward you for your generosity.