Student Spotlight: Alexander Straus-Fausto M.M.'24

Who Are You?

I am Alexander Straus-Fausto M.M. ’24. I’m from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.

What are you doing at the ISM?

I am working on my Masters in Organ performance.

What does the ISM mean to you?

There is so much at our disposal at the ISM. Most importantly for me, I have made some very special friends here. In fact, the camaraderie in the ISM is something I have not experienced at any school I have attended to date. As busy as everyone is, time is made to socialize and explore all that Yale and New Haven have to offer. The teaching here is of course top notch, with our main organ professors Martin Jean and James O’Donnell, plus a number of guest teachers who come in for additional master classes. We take improvisation lessons with Jeff Brillhart who this year even guided us to improvise a fugue! This semester I also have had the opportunity to expand my skill set with lessons on the Hammond organ, which is quite different from the traditional organs we usually play. Speaking of organs, one of the world’s greatest organs at Woolsey is available to us here. At the ISM, we gain practical experience along with our studies. For instance, I was able to sing in Yale Camerata, directed by Dr. Barber, while also taking private conducting lessons with her. I have also worked at Berkeley Chapel for the two years of my study, where I enjoy working with Divinity students and taking very interesting Divinity courses in addition to the music courses that I love.

What’s notable and coming up?

I am currently auditioning for an Artist Diploma for the fall. I am under management now and have a number of organ concerts scheduled, including my Woolsey degree recital March 7 at 7:30 p.m. I will also be playing on February 28 at 12:15 p.m. at First Congregational Church in Fairfield, Ct.; March 10 at 3 p.m. at Peace Memorial Presbyterian Church in Clearwater, Florida; April 7 at 12 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on the Green in Norwalk, CT; April 10 at 12 p.m. at Mechanics Hall in Boston; April 12 at 12:15 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, Boston; April 24 at 12:30 p.m. here at Dwight Chapel; April 28 at 3 p.m. at Saints-Anges Gardiens Parish, Lachine, QC; June 2 at 2 p.m. at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA; June 9 at 4 p.m. at St. Barnabas Catholic Church, Scarborough, ON; August 11 at 4:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, UK; August 12 at 12:30 p.m. at Coventry Cathedral, UK; August 18 at 5 p.m. at Westminster Abbey, London, UK; and August 25 at 4 p.m. at La Madeleine, Paris, France.

Watch a performance by Alexander of “Live Wire” by Iain Farrington.