Broad gestures and rich textures are hallmarks of the “compelling” (The New York Times), “deliciously wistful” (San Francisco Classical Voice), music of composer Alex Weiser. Born and raised in New York City, Weiser creates acutely cosmopolitan music combining a deeply felt historical perspective with a vibrant forward-looking creativity hailed as “personal, expressive, and bold” (I Care If You Listen).

Weiser’s debut album and all the days were purple, was named a 2020 Pulitzer Prize Finalist and cited as “a meditative and deeply spiritual work whose unexpected musical language is arresting and directly emotional.” Released by Cantaloupe Music in April 2019, the album includes songs in Yiddish and English.

Active as an opera composer, Weiser is currently working on two operas — a commission from American Lyric Theater, and an opera exploring the story of the unfinished Great Dictionary of the Yiddish Language with librettist Ben Kaplan. Weiser recently completed another opera with Kaplan, State of the Jews based on the story of Theodor Herzl, his wife Julie, and the toll his political activities took on their family life.

An advocate for contemporary classical music, Weiser co-founded Kettle Corn New Music, an “ever-enjoyable” concert series (The New York Times), and was a director of the MATA Festival, “the city’s leading showcase for vital new music by emerging composers” (The New Yorker). Weiser is now the Director of Public Programs at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research where he curates programs and has commissioned over fifteen works from some of today’s leading composers.