Alexandra Marks is a dedicated cellist based in Salt Lake County, originally from the Portland, Oregon area. Her musical journey began in her teenage years when she was accepted into the prestigious Portland Youth Philharmonic, where she cultivated her early orchestral and chamber music experience.
In 2023, Alexandra earned dual bachelor’s degrees in cello performance and biology from the University of Utah, where she studied under Pegsoon Whang, a Curtis Institute graduate and longtime member of the Utah Symphony.
During her time at the university, Alexandra received numerous honors and scholarships. Notably, she held positions in both the Mount Olympus Waters Honors Quartet and the OC Tanner Honors Quartet. As the university’s lead collaborative cellist, she participated in a variety of performances including vocal, percussion, new music, and composition seminars.
Outside academia, she has contributed to a range of musical projects, including performances with the Salt Lake Symphony, participation in the University of Utah’s production of Spring Awakening, and the premiere of Marking the Land, a new vocal solo piece accompanied by string quartet.
Currently, Alexandra is preparing for graduate school auditions in cello performance while actively working as a freelance cellist and private cello instructor.
Alexandra’s teaching is rooted in the pedagogical principles of Paul Rolland, with an emphasis on encouraging personal exploration of the cello’s capabilities, promoting healthy and comfortable playing techniques, and introducing collaborative ensemble experiences early in a student’s development.
She believes that mistakes are a sign of growth. By allowing students to experiment and discover their own sound, she helps them develop technique through instinctive, comfortable motion. She emphasizes the importance of ensemble familiarity, believing that comfort in group settings builds confidence, musical awareness, and interpersonal connection.
To support this, she regularly plays duets with her students during lessons, helping them internalize the value of their role in a musical dialogue and experience the joy of collaborative performance.
