Alex Shapiro (She/Her)
by Sofina Trotter (She/Her)
Growing up in Manhattan in the 1970’s, Alex Shapiro was exposed to every imaginable form of music. She describes her teen years as an enlightening time, when she worked as a babysitter to be able to fill her nights with copious different musical performances. Filled with an incredible range of musical experiences, these formative years led her down the path to becoming a genre-defying, industry-changing composer.
Today, Shapiro lives and works remotely on the San Juan Islands. Surrounded by the scenic beauty of the Salish Sea filled with whales, bald eagles and more, her work is deeply influenced by her environment. Shapiro has written a wide variety of compositions for high school bands, professional ensembles, chamber groups, and soloists. Her musical sound pushes the boundaries of Western classical tradition, combining electronic sounds with traditional instruments in a way that is indescribable. Shapiro proudly describes her music as “genre-less”.
Not only a composer, she’s a passionate advocate for music education, artistic rights, and diversity in the industry. Throughout her career she has used her platform to promote equity in music education across rural and underserved communities. Shapiro’s compositions fill in empty spaces that may appear in smaller musical groups with electronic music; these adaptable scores provide equity for communities that may not have an abundance of musical resources.
Shapiro is a strong advocate for a diverse and inclusive music industry, hoping to see a shift in the industry where marginalized voices are routinely programmed, not just placed in as a token requirement. Only 7% of all programmed concert and film music is composed by women, a saddening reality of the music industry. To help educators diversify their repertoire, she created a guide to intentional programming. This guide provides resources and direction to compositions made by female and poc/queer composers. Shapiro is also outspoken about the future of music in a tech-driven world, believing technology, especially electronic and digital music, are opening new creative doors that composers should embrace. She’s also deeply concerned about how artificial intelligence could erase the credit composers deserve, pushing for stronger protections to ensure composers are credited for their work and shielded from piracy as musicians leverage AI in their careers and compositions.
By writing, composing, and speaking out, Shapiro makes sure others can be exposed to diverse musical experiences like she was growing up. Whether it’s a rural school band or a professional stage, her music brings people in to expose them to a unique musical experience. She doesn’t believe in limits—not in genre, not in geography, and definitely not in who gets to be heard. Through her music and advocacy, Shapiro continues to shape a more inclusive and equitable future for everyone who listens—and everyone who creates.
