Alexander Kahn

Office

Advising Area

• Instrumental Performance

About

Alexander Kahn is Professor of Music and Director of Orchestral Activities at Sonoma State University. At Sonoma State he directs the Sonoma State Symphony Orchestra and teaches courses in conducting, music history, musicianship, and general education. Alexander comes to Sonoma State from Gettysburg College, where he was Associate Professor of Music and Director of Orchestral Activities at the Sunderman Conservatory of Music. Previous university-level orchestras with whom Alexander has worked include the UC Berkeley Chamber Orchestra (Founder and Music Director) and the UC Berkeley Symphony (Assistant Conductor).

In addition to his work with college-level orchestras, Alexander has worked with professional orchestras across the United States and throughout Europe. Currently he serves as Assistant and Cover Conductor for both the Santa Rosa Symphony and the San Francisco Symphony, and as Principal Guest Conductor for the Bay Philharmonic in Fremont, CA. Previous positions he has held include Music Director of the Metta Ensemble (Gettysburg, PA), Cover Conductor for the Baltimore Symphony, Staff Conductor for the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, Assistant Conductor of the Bamberg Symphony, and Music Director of the Bamberg Collegium Musicum. 

A champion for music education, Alexander is Music Director of the Napa Valley Youth Orchestra. He regularly works with young musicians at the Encore Coda Performing Arts Camp (Sweden, Maine) and at the Cazadero Performing Arts Camp, and is a frequent guest conductor for middle school and high school honor orchestras throughout California. He also serves on the Board of the California Orchestra Directors Association (CODA). 

Alexander earned a PhD in Music History from UC Berkeley and remains active as a scholar. His book on mindfulness and music, Caring for the Whole Musician, was published by Routledge Press in 2023. He lectures and offers workshops on the subject of mindfulness for musicians throughout California and beyond.

Alexander’s love of music was inherited from his father, Eugene Kahn, a conductor and educator on Long Island. His primary conducting studies were at UC Berkeley with David Milnes and at the Peabody Institute with Marin Alsop, Gustav Meier and Markand Thakar. He has also participated in workshops with teachers including Larry Rachleff, Kenneth Kiesler, Daniel Lewis and Peter Gülke. 

When not conducting, Alexander enjoys cooking, hiking, reading, and traveling, and spending time with his wonderful wife and daughter.