Alexandra Whittingham
Biography Alexandra Whittingham
Alexandra Whittingham
After studying classical guitar, piano, jazz guitar and composition at the world-renowned Chetham’s School of Music for seven years, Alexandra Whittingham gained a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Having graduated with first class honours and the Timothy Gilson Guitar Prize in 2019, she has returned to the Royal Academy where her master’s degree is supported by the Hattori Foundation, Help Musicians UK and the Drake Calleja Trust.
During her time at Chetham’s Alexandra had many opportunities to play with various ensembles, such as string quartets, guitar trios and jazz groups, which resulted in her becoming a member of the Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra. With the orchestra came the opportunity to tour Germany and the Czech Republic, where they sold out venues in both countries. In her final year at the school she also gained her LRSM (Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music) second diploma in guitar performance. In 2016 Alexandra was invited to perform at Abbey Road Studios alongside singer- songwriter Imelda May for EMI Music and Sound Foundation and Universal Music. She has also enjoyed giving recitals throughout Europe, including at Festival Le Temps des Guitares in south-west France, Vilnius Town Hall in Lithuania, venues in Italy and Germany, and the British Embassy in Paris.
Closer to home Alexandra has played at London’s County Hall and Milton Court Concert Hall and the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. She has also appeared as a concerto soloist with Gorton Philharmonic Orchestra and Dorset Chamber Orchestra.
Maintaining an active online presence, Alexandra has gained over 180,000 subscribers on YouTube during the last four years, where videos of her performances of popular classical guitar repertoire have collectively surpassed 26 million views.
She has also been a prize-winner in several competitions including the inaugural Edinburgh Guitar Competition, the Carpathian International Youth Guitar Competition in Budapest and the Gregynog Young Musician Competition.
Alexandra is delighted to be an Augustine Strings artist, using their Regal Blue range. She plays a 2011 Christopher Dean guitar, sourced by Miles Roberts at Kent Guitar Classics.
