{"id":1971,"date":"2021-02-25T16:40:51","date_gmt":"2021-02-26T00:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/?p=1971"},"modified":"2026-08-30T22:20:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T05:20:29","slug":"notes-with-a-purpose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/notes-with-a-purpose\/","title":{"rendered":"Notes With a Purpose"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Chic<\/span><\/div>
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This article was printed in<\/em>
\nChic Compass Magazine - Issue 7<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>

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\"Alexandria<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Le is seated at the Yamaha CFX at The Smith Center\u2019s Reynold Hall.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Notes With A Purpose<\/h1>\n

A PERFECT \"GRACE NOTE\" FOR LAS VEGAS<\/p>\n

BY KENDALL HARDIN<\/p>\n<\/div>

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One meaning of grace is \u201cto embellish or adorn something.\u201d In a piece of music, a grace note \u201cadds decoration to the main melody to make it sound more beautiful or precious.\u201d Grace can also be defined as \u201csimple elegance or refinement of movement.\u201d On and offstage, pianist Alexandria Le epitomizes amazing grace<\/em> - as a gifted artist and virtuoso performer.<\/p>\n

Following a 16-year career in New York, Alexandria graced all of us by returning to her Las Vegas roots. She made a colossal splash in the local cultural scene as a consummate performer, coach, and nonprofit pioneer\u2026 always adding a little grace note to everything she touches!<\/p>\n

Performer Extraordinaire<\/p>\n

When she was just three years old, Alexandria started piano lessons under the tutelage of her mother, an alumna of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. By the time she was twelve, she had pinpointed a challenging career path as an established concert pianist. And like so many all-stars, she focused all her youthful energy on that dream.<\/p>\n

Her resume reads like a rocket launch to professional stardom. She quickly garnered sixteen first-prize awards, performed live on KNPR Radio, and performed with every Las Vegas regional orchestra - all before graduating from the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts, where she became an inaugural inductee into the school\u2019s Hall of Fame. From there, she polished off degrees from the Eastman School of Music and SUNY Stony Brook, where she received her Doctorate of Musical Arts in piano performance.<\/p>\n

After performing her solo debut in Carnegie Hall as a 2011 prizewinner of the Pro Musicis International Award, she won a coveted position with the resident ensemble of Carnegie Hall and the Juilliard School, performing regularly throughout the Big Apple.<\/p>\n

Alexandria\u2019s solo performances have taken her to some of the world\u2019s most illustrious stages, like Carnegie Hall and the Salle Cortot<\/em> in Paris, as well as more intimate venues at the French Embassy in New York City and the Hamptons\u2019 Parrish Museum.<\/p>\n

She is a highly sought-after collaborator and chamber musician, performing with members of the world\u2019s leading orchestras and ensembles, such as the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, St. Martin-in-the-Fields, and American Brass. Alexandria is also a prestigious Yamaha Artist on the company\u2019s classical piano roster, of which there are fewer than 125 keyboard artists worldwide. And she\u2019s still in her 30s!<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Photo of Alexandria Le at piano by Liliana Trejo Vanegas<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Hard Work and an Ounce of Luck<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pinnacle achievement requires native skill, incessant learning, endless hours of practice, relentless personal drive, and sometimes a pinch of serendipity. When Alexandria was ten, her mother had a chance meeting in a restaurant with a school friend in California who ended up recommending the teacher who would deeply influence and catapult Alexandria\u2019s career trajectory.<\/p>\n

For eight years, Alexandria journeyed several times a month to the Bay Area to study with Erna Gulabyan, who trained at the Yerevan and Moscow Conservatories of Music. Gulabyan introduced her young proteg\u00e9 to the Eastern European system, focusing on strong technical and musical skills. This rigorous system is responsible for such 20th Century giants as Van Cliburn, Sviatoslav Richter, and Olga Kern.<\/p>\n

When I first saw Alexandria perform as the accompanist at One Amazing Evening, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Opera Las Vegas at The Smith Center, I admired her fearless renditions of difficult orchestral transcriptions for the piano, as well as her sensitivity to each singer\u2019s pacing, coloring, and breath - all marks of an exceptional accompanist.<\/p>\n

\u201cI much prefer the term collaborator over accompanist,\u201d she insists. \u201cI owe so much of my collaborative approach and listening skills to performing in chamber groups, where we learn how to hear each other as we simultaneously play as one.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Alexandria Le in Las Vegas, Nevada<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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The Gift of Teaching<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before returning to Las Vegas, Alexandria ran a leading piano studio in New York for ten years, with students ranging from 4 to 86 years young. Today she teaches up to a dozen students in her mid-town studio.<\/p>\n

In addition to private tutoring, Alexandria delivers masterclasses and presentations at universities and music schools throughout North America while serving on international competition and grant panels. In Las Vegas, she helped adjudicate the Las Vegas Philharmonic Concerto Competition, the Heart of Education Awards at The Smith Center, and the Bolognini\/Legacy Scholarship Competition, among others.<\/p>\n

As a Carnegie Hall Teaching Artist and Fellow, Alexandria provided piano classroom instruction to an elementary school in Brooklyn and has performed over 60 outreach performances in schools, hospitals, shelters, and prisons over the span of two years - experiences that definitely imprinted her career. Once back in Las Vegas, she launched an annual three-day Las Vegas Academy Piano Institute - \u201cHow to Ace Life with Music Skills\u201d - for over 80 piano majors at her famed high school alma mater.<\/p>\n

She also inspires the next generation of college students with lectures and demonstrations on her approach to interactive programming and entrepreneurial partnerships.<\/p>\n

Coaching the next generation can be an accomplished musician\u2019s greatest reward. Alexandria lights up when she talks about her students, as she diligently addresses each child\u2019s unique skills, special interests, and long-term goals. The result is a disciplined approach to keyboard mastery, plus an appreciation of music that lasts a lifetime - a truly priceless gift!<\/p>\n<\/div>

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A fourth-grade class connects with classical music during NWP\u2019s Juicebox Series. <\/em>
\nPhoto by Liliana Trejo Vanegas<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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On a Mission to Change Lives<\/strong><\/p>\n

In her hometown, Alexandria funneled her New York outreach experiences and high-energy vision into an innovative nonprofit, Notes with a Purpose (NWP), launched in the summer of 2016. She hit the pavement full-speed, with a mission \u201cto produce engaging, high-quality musical experiences through concerts, educational programs, and outreach projects to cultivate a life-long appreciation of the arts.\u201d<\/p>\n

In short, she became a consummate producer with a clear-eyed vision on how to transport creative music programming into diverse communities, atypical venues, and forgotten spaces, where people had little or no access to live classical music.<\/p>\n

Armed with savvy branding, visionary chutzpah, and dauntless skill in recruiting sponsors, Alexandria launched eight community partnerships that have engaged over 12,000 children and 4,000 adults with high-quality arts programs in 47 elementary schools and a variety of community venues over the last five years. Here are just two of her homeruns in our fair city.<\/p>\n

The Music Juicebox Series<\/strong><\/p>\n

This made-for-kids program introduces young ears to classical music and other genres through fun, explorative school performances. Music Juicebox tours through the Clark County School District every semester, providing high-quality music experiences performed by top musicians in the country. The program is interactive and fun - promoting creative thinking, teamwork, and exposure to the arts. Each year, performances reach over 3,000 4th and 5th-graders (three quarters of whom attend at-risk Title I Schools).<\/p>\n

Additional underwriting from the Las Vegas Science & Technology Festival in 2019 allowed young audiences to step into the role of studio producer to sample the latest and greatest technology in music. What a treat!<\/p>\n

And, as a capstone to the end of each Juicebox series, a final public concert invites parents to bring their youngsters (even under the age of ten) to enjoy classical music as a family experience.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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\"Alexandria<\/span><\/div><\/div>

Alexandria Le<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Music at the Mission<\/strong><\/p>\n

As part of its community outreach commitment, NWP partnered with the Las Vegas Rescue Mission, a homeless shelter, food pantry, and recovery program in downtown Las Vegas. The program Mission: Music Live provides informal performances every Wednesday evening during dinner service, creating a win-win for both the high school participants in the program and everyone associated with the Mission. Music Live provides opportunities for young students to showcase interactive performances and hone their comportment skills with new audiences while learning the value of public-spirited altruism. For the 600-odd diners and staff at the Mission, it offers an unexpected musical gift that brings joy to everyone\u2019s spirit.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing a part of Mission: Music Live is the best opportunity I have ever received as a musician and as a person,\u201d noted Dejan Djukic, one of the program\u2019s earliest high school performers. \u201cMy involvement has thoroughly changed my perspective on life, showing me what music can truly do for an individual.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Geoff P., one of the residents in recovery at the Mission, \u201cClassical music was the furthest thing from what my life had been. After I saw the performance, I was absolutely amazed and started tuning into classical music every night. I still turn to classical music when I\u2019m in times of need, rage, sorrow, or overwhelming happiness. Classical music has played a pivotal role in my recovery and has definitely tamed this beast\u2019s soul.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>

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A quartet performance inside Gaudin Porsche\u2019s showroom for a NWP benefit event. Photo by Bizuayehu Tesfaye<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Reimagining Concerts for a Cause<\/strong><\/p>\n

Notes with a Purpose is taking music outside the concert hall for a good cause. The winning formula requires \u201crepackaging\u201d the classical music experience, so it is approachable, accessible, fun, and positively delicious!<\/p>\n

\u201cTo raise funds for our outreach initiatives, we design unique concert experiences that pair exquisite food and drink with classical music performed by some of the world\u2019s finest artists, who are just a few feet away from the audience,\u201d explained Alexandria.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur venues are untraditional, too. We turn car showrooms, art galleries, restaurants, and museums into
\nconcert venues. We create multi-sensory experiences, up-close and intimate, adding an unexpected twist to sophisticated cultural offerings.\u201d Audiences arrive in anticipation and leave thrilled.<\/p>\n

Past music and wine events have included Mimosas & Mozart performances at Las Vegas Wine Festivals at the J.W, Marriott Resort, and the Nevada State Museum, as well as themed Music & Wine Pop-up Concerts at Domsky Glass Gallery, Artisanal Foods, and Gaudin Porsche of Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

And the good news: every penny benefits NWP\u2019s education and outreach programs that help change lives through the arts.<\/p>\n

Post-Pandemic Pacesetter<\/strong><\/p>\n

The pandemic forced everyone in the art world, including Notes With a Purpose, to suspend its programs in 2020 until the world proves safe again for personal interaction. As people re-emerge from personal isolation, a killer virus, and divisive politics, \u201cart in the service of community\u201d is surfacing as a critical need in both cities and rural communities.<\/p>\n

Artists are the perfect medium to bring people together in an America still shaken by social and racial tension.<\/p>\n

Art helps us heal and boosts our recovery. It celebrates our common humanity and reignites our creative
\nspirit. It is essential, no longer a frill just for those who can afford it.<\/p>\n

Through performances, teaching, and community outreach, Alexandria continues to add beauty and cultural growth to her hometown every day. Notes with a Purpose has become a pacesetting \u201cdemonstration model,\u201d inspiring other local artists and cultural nonprofits to forge new paths outside traditionally elite spaces.<\/p>\n

Funders and civic leaders need to ask two questions as we enter the post-pandemic era. How can we help lead the charge to change people\u2019s lives through the arts? And how can we promote all the arts for all the people? I\u2019m sure Alexandria Le has at least a dozen new ideas up her sleeve - all ready to rip!<\/p>\n

For more info, visit:
\nNoteswithapurpose.org<\/a>
\nalexandriale.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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When just three-years-old, Alexandria Le started piano lessons. By the time she was twelve, she had pinpointed a challenging career path as an established concert pianist. And like so many all-stars, she focused all her youthful energy on that dream.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1973,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4522,4520,3268],"tags":[3304,3309,3198,267,3308,3306,3305,3220,3307],"class_list":["post-1971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-and-culture","category-entertainment","category-issue-7","tag-alexandria-le","tag-concerts-for-a-cause","tag-kendall-hardin","tag-las-vegas","tag-music-at-the-mission","tag-music-jukebox-series","tag-notes-with-a-purpose","tag-pianist","tag-smith-center"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1971"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1971\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11426,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1971\/revisions\/11426"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1973"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chiccompass.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}