Influenced by his Cypriot-Cuban family heritage, New York–based composer Alexandros Darna explores his multicultural identity and creates works that are often a vibrant blend of Cuban dance rhythms and Cypriot musical idioms. Whether he is writing an orchestral work, an opera scene, a jazz arrangement, or 8-bit chiptune music, Alexandros incites the audience to wonder, and create imaginative, pictorial connections.
Alexandros’s latest work for sinfonietta, Fables, was premiered under the baton of Jeffrey Milarsky at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center. His symphonic work, Solus, premiered under the baton of Kyle Ritenauer at Neidorff-Karpati Hall. Recognition has followed his Minnaloushe for violin, percussion, and piano, which earned the prestigious "NY Fed. Of Music Clubs Israel Prize.” Most recently, Alexandros composed Apparitions for the Detroit-based ensemble Hub New Music, which premiered at the Thailand International Composition Festival in a concert produced by the Asian American New Music Institute (AANMI).
Alexandros has arranged songs for twenty-eight-time gold and platinum album vocalist (IFPI Greece) Alkistis Protopsalti and the TrakArt Pops orchestra directed by Aris Antoniades. Beyond the concert hall, Alexandros has made a mark in the world of film with his score for Kamno Pilo, an official selection at the International Short Film Festival of Cyprus and the West Side Mountains Doc. Fest. in Athens, Greece.
Alexandros’ multifaceted personality is characterized by his desire to interact with a wide range of genres, as well as to experience different cultures. This desire lead him to Cuba in 2017, where he reconnected with his paternal roots and studied at the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) in Havana, immersing himself in the island’s richly musical Afro-Cuban culture.
Currently pursuing a DMA degree at The Juilliard School, Alexandros has earned recognition for his academic excellence, appearing on the Dean's list during his studies at Juilliard (MM) and at Manhattan School of Music (BM). His principal teachers include John Corigliano, Mark Stambaugh, Robert Beaser, Melinda Wagner, David Ludwig, Amy Beth Kirsten, and others. Alexandros is honored to have been the recipient of the Vergottis, Leventis, and the MSM International Advisory Board scholarship awards.
As an educator, Alexandros teaches Music Theory to high school students in Juilliard’s Extension Division and serves as an Ear-Training and Music Theory Teaching Fellow for undergraduate and graduate classes in the College Division. He also maintains a private studio, offering both in-person and virtual lessons in theory, ear training, and composition to students of all ages and levels.