Alexia M.

Alexia is an award-winning professional saxophonist, accomplished music educator and performer, and passionate disability rights advocate who is committed to helping students not only become better musicians, but also more expressive, curious, and confident individuals.

She first became interested in music as a middle school student when she picked up the saxophone for the very first time. Something about the sound and expressive quality of the instrument immediately captured her attention, and she quickly realized that music was more than just an activity - it was a way to connect, communicate, and grow. As she continued through high school, she became more deeply involved in performing and mentoring younger students, which helped her discover how much she enjoyed teaching.

In college, Alexia earned both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music, specializing in saxophone performance. While earning her Bachelor's, Alexia picked up her second instrument, the ukulele. During graduate school, she minored in her third instrument, the clarinet, which allowed her to expand her versatility and deepen her understanding of woodwind pedagogy. Finally, she began learning the flute to further support her students and strengthen her own musicianship. Around this time, she also began formally teaching private lessons, and she quickly realized how rewarding it was to see students grow and develop through consistent guidance and encouragement.

Throughout her studies, Alexia also performed frequently in musical theater pits, which reinforced how much she loved playing woodwind instruments and collaborating with other musicians to bring a story to life. This experience also paved the way for Alexia's performance career. She has performed at the NASA Region 6 Conference, with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, and in LSU’s Die Dreigroschenoper Opera. She has premiered and recorded multiple works, including Stephen Browne’s "In A Cloud, Aimless", and compositions by Jase Nugent and Luciano Correa. She has also collaborated as part of Duo Vim, where she performed a Guest Artist Recital at the University of North Florida. Finally, she is a D’Addario Performing Artist and a Key Leaves Performing Artist.

Her achievements don't stop at the performance level; Alexia is also a highly accomplished educator. Her students have consistently earned top honors in All-State and District Bands across Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. Alexia has given masterclasses and clinics at institutions including Hastings College, Portland State University, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her favorite thing about teaching is seeing her students develop confidence and pride in their growth. She loves instilling a lifelong love and passion for music in every student she teaches - whether they're beginners learning their first few notes or advanced players preparing for performances. Her lessons are designed to be encouraging, structured, and flexible to each student's needs. Alexia focuses on strong fundamentals - tone, rhythm, technique, and reading - while also nurturing creativity through listening, improvisation, and performance opportunities. She remains deeply committed to fostering inclusive learning environments that empower students of all abilities. Currently, she teaches middle school music in Houston, Texas, where she continues to create engaging and accessible musical experiences for young students.

Beyond the classroom, Alexia is passionate about advocacy work. She serves as the Marketing Team Captain for New Works Project, where she plays an integral role in promoting and supporting the creation of contemporary music. Also, as a disabled musician, Alexia has made it her mission to amplify the voices of fellow disabled artists and push for greater accessibility in the music industry. Her lived experiences have driven her to speak on disability inclusion in music education and performance. Alexia founded the Diversity & Inclusion Student Organization at Louisiana State University while working there. She has earned the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate and the Inclusive and Ethical Leadership Certificate from the University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business. She is also a certified Safe Space Member through LSU’s LGBTQ+ Project, a member of Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities (RAMPD), and Director of the Mentorship Program for the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) Committee on Gender Equity. One of Alexia's proudest advocacy-related achievements was her role in developing and publishing "Tuning Your Resilience: A Musician’s Disability Guide," a resource designed to empower musicians with disabilities by providing tools and strategies for success. Whether on stage, in the classroom, or through her work in accessibility and inclusion, Alexia is committed to shaping a future where disabled musicians are not just included, but celebrated as essential voices in the arts.