Alex DePue
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Alex DePue began studying classical violin at age five. He won his first university-level competition at age 10, soloing with the Bowling Green State University Symphony Orchestra, and later (age 14) won a competition which entitled him to a performance at NYC’s Carnegie Hall, serving as Concertmaster under the direction of Joseph Silverstein for the National Guild Youth Symphony Orchestra. He continues to appear as guest soloist with orchestras at music festivals worldwide.
Despite decades of intense classical training, Alex became interested in fiddling at age seven, and began competing in “fiddle” contests. He reigned as the Michigan State Fiddling Champion from 1994-1998, won the first-place trophy at the Walnut Valley National Fiddling Championship in Winfield, Kansas in 1999 and 2005, first place in the Halletsville, TX “Gone to Texas National Fiddling Championship” in 2000, first place in the Alabama state fiddle contest in 2006 and 2007, and first place in the California state fiddle contest in 2007. Also in 2006, he was deemed, “Fiddle King” in Athens, AL (Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention). Alex served as a judge at the National Oldtime Fiddling Championship (Weiser, ID) in 2008, and in 2010 and 2011, won first place in the Twin Fiddle division while ranking among the Top 10 finalists in the Grand National Championship division.
Alex toured as Musical Director with Capitol Recording artist Chris Cagle from 2000-2006, with whom he still regularly appears (re-runs) on the Grand Ole Opry, CMT, Great American Country and VH1 Country.
From 2007 – 2010, Mr. DePue joined legendary rock guitarist, Steve Vai, for a world tour that took him across North America, South America and Europe. Alex’s YouTube videos are from all parts of the globe, and his #1 YouTube hit (featured for three weeks on YouTube’s home-page), “Owner of a Lonely Heart/Smooth Criminal”‘ (Yes and Michael Jackson, respectively) has been viewed worldwide over four million times (re-posting). 2010 continued celebration for Vai’s 2009 DVD release, “Steve Vai: Where the WILD THINGS Are” (a live concert music-movie co-featuring DePue), its Grammy nomination for Best Live Rock Instrumental Performance at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards and Gold Record (award issued to each band/cast member) from the Recording Industry Association of America in recognition of “Gold” sales status in both the US and Canada (Platinum Award from the Canadian Recording Industry Association). Vai and DePue remain close colleagues, and continue to collaborate behind the scenes.
Throughout his work with Steve Vai, Mr. DePue was introduced to, and then subsequently teamed up with Mexican guitarist, Miguel De Hoyos. Ever since, the duo’s unique international sound garnered interest from elected politicians and officials within the country of Mexico, and their spectacular musical performances have been praised by popular English-written publications; The Gringo Gazette and Baja Times, and more press from US publications (i.e., Kansas City Tribune, Toledo Blade, San Diego Union-Tribune, etc.). Alex and Miguel released their first recording, “Underground Whispers” in 2009 and their most recent recording, “Twisted Strings”, are both available online at www.alexdepue.com . “Alex DePue with Miguel De Hoyos” performed in Rio de Janeiro as special guests for the global launch of “ArtsGames”, an effort to bring the arts back into the International spotlight in conjunction with the Summer Olympics (August 11th, 2016).
With the increasingly popular DePue Brothers Band, including all violin-playing DePues, Wallace (former concertmaster, Philadelphia Pops), Jason (1st Vln. Philadelphia Orchestra) and Zachary (former concertmaster, Indianapolis Symphony and founding member of popular string trio “Time For Three”), Alex played on the soundtrack and composed one of the pieces for the Philadelphia Orchestra documentary, “Music from the Inside Out”, and the brothers have also recorded for NFL Films. Alex produced the band’s first album, “Weapons of Grass Construction”, and for over a decade, the DePue Brothers Band continue to tour their Holiday-Season smash show (“DePue Brothers Holiday Concert”) each December, performing cuts from their follow-up album, “When It’s Christmas Time”, also produced by Alex DePue. www.depuebrothersband.com
In 2011, Mr. DePue launched “The DePue Brothers’ International Fiddle Competition”, to benefit music programs throughout his hometown (Bowling Green, OH City Schools) and also released his second solo recording, STAGES, on which he is performing all instruments heard. That year, he performed in Chicago to an audience of 40,000 with actor/singer Kevin Costner.
In 2015, Alex released yet another solo project entitled, “All 4 1”, focused on the vast array of styles available to the violin, including all genres. Alex’s most popular recording, “The Fiddler”, was his first professional studio effort (1999). His latest studio effort (2018) “Modern Paganini”, has been extolled as one of the greatest fiddle records ever produced. Alex DePue’s recordings can be found at iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-fiddler/id4…
With a background in classical violin, the ability to turn on a dime towards bluegrass fiddling, jazz, rock, and/or any improvisational style available to the instrument, Alex is also fluent on the viola, mandolin, guitar, bass, clarinet, saxophone, drums and piano. Alex DePue maintains a select number of students per year through private online instruction via Skype. If you are serious about studying the violin, please contact: [email protected] .
Aside from extensive touring and teaching, Alex DePue spends his spare time as a record producer, and with his established OVNI Studio, will record on your project and send you back the new file within 24 hours.
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