K. Alexander Blanton received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Augustana College (Rock Island, IL.) and a Master of Music from the University of Missouri. At the University of Missouri, Blanton studied composition with W. Thomas McKenney and Stefan Freund. He was also a trumpet student of Iskander Akhmadullin and studied conducting with Edward Dolbashian. He is a current student of conductor Kirk Trevor. Blanton is presently active as a composer, educator, and performer. He holds positions on the board of directors of the Columbia Civic Orchestra and Carpe Diem Columbia, where he is also a faculty member. Previous positions include an adjunct faculty position at the University of Missouri School of Music and Assistant Director of the Missouri Youth Orchestra.Blanton’s compositions have been performed by soloists and ensembles throughout the United States, including a performance of his Triptych for Woodwind Trio at the biannual Music Educators National Conference in 2008. Current composition projects include a work for solo tenor and orchestra, commissioned by Alex Inneco for the Ninth Street Philharmonic Orchestra (Columbia MO), and a work for large concert band, commissioned by Andrew Eckardt for the Oregon School System (Oregon, IL.) band program.
Blanton’s work as a conductor began with chamber performance of new music and standard repertory at the University of Missouri. In 2010, Blanton founded the Missouri Chamber Orchestra, a classical orchestra dedicated to performing music at the highest quality possible. Recent performances included Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Mozart’s D minor Piano Concerto, and Stravinsky’s Octet for Wind Instruments.
As an educator, Blanton has taught composition lessons and assisted in the arranging of composition festivals and events for the University of Missouri. He can be heard speaking about music at Carpe Diem Columbia. He also maintains an active studio of composition, theory, and trumpet students.
Still active as a performer, Blanton can regularly be heard with the Ninth Street Philharmonic Orchestra, the Columbia Civic Orchestra, and at various churches and events in the Columbia area.
