Joining the College of Music faculty this fall, Assistant Professor of Violin Alex Gonzazlez is no stranger to the Centennial State.
鈥淚鈥檝e spent five or six summers in Colorado, in some capacity,鈥� he recalls, having most recently moved here from Las Vegas, Nevada. 鈥淥ver the years, I鈥檝e spent time in Aspen as a student and in 麻豆影院 playing at the Flatirons Chamber Music Festival. It still feels like a new place to me, but it also feels somewhat familiar.鈥�
Gonzalez shared with us his commitment to developing what Dean John Davis calls the universal musician, and cultivating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students, faculty and staff. 鈥淭his is how the music world is structured these days,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not about hyper-specialization, but about flexibility, creativity and keeping an open mind.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 imperative to be flexible because being rigid hurts your expression. If you can exemplify flexibility in your life and interests, it translates to your life on stage and makes you much more communicative in every area.鈥�
He further explains, 鈥淢y job is to give students the tools and perspective they need to broaden their horizons and explore all different genres, styles and avenues within the music world鈥攁nd opportunities outside of the music environment, too. This is a mindset that I absolutely encourage鈥揳nd require鈥攖o help students gain perspective on many disciplines, instead of getting stuck in tunnel vision. Why limit yourself?鈥澨�
As a multifaceted musician himself, Gonzalez well understands today鈥檚 demand for universally trained musicians鈥攁mong other areas of experience, he brings to our college extensive experience as a teaching artist, a virtuoso performing artist and a recording artist.听
Indeed, throughout his education and career, Gonzalez has explored many musical paths. 鈥淎long the way, I found that every time I was 100% focused on just one thing, it felt like something was missing or I would start to feel burned out,鈥� he reflects. 鈥淵ou may love ice cream, but if all you eat is ice cream, you鈥檙e going to get sick.
鈥淲hen I was in school, the universal musician model didn鈥檛 really exist. It was more about hyper-specialization, which does have its place. But over time, I discovered that constructing my life in such a way that I didn鈥檛 have to choose just one path is also valid and鈥攆or me鈥攁ctually preferable.鈥�
Gonzalez adds, 鈥淥ne of the things that drew me to the College of Music is the amazing faculty, many of whom have collaborative backgrounds which is something that I care about in teaching, music and life in general.听
鈥淯pon moving to Colorado and meeting our faculty and staff, I鈥檝e come to observe that collaboration is a shared value across the entire university community鈥揻rom students and faculty to staff and administrators.听I can鈥檛 wait to exchange ideas with everyone, to inspire and promote an evermore wonderful learning environment and creative, welcoming space.鈥�
