Music defines who I am. From my earliest memories playing with toy instruments to the blend of my professional and personal life, what you see on stage is what you get backstage—minus the makeup! (Fun fact: makeup is one of my favorite creative outlets outside the music world.) But here’s a glimpse into what you won’t find in my official bio:

I come from a family of incredible cooks. My dad worked in the food industry, and every holiday, my mom would prepare delicious feasts for the whole family. Both my grandmothers were talented bakers, and I spent countless hours in the kitchen with my Vó Diva (Portuguese for Grandma—yes, Diva was her real name!). She was a phenomenal cook and often taught my sister and me to bake. I’ll never forget her one-handed egg-cracking skills. After a few failed attempts of my own, I retired from cooking greatness, leaving the spotlight to my sister, now an amazing professional chef. These days, I cook just for fun, much to my sister’s horror at my 'rustic style' herb chopping.

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I also used to hate sports and gyms, feeling awkward and out of place. That changed when I discovered Pilates, which helped me overcome those feelings and even recover from a tennis elbow injury (no, I don’t play tennis!). Pilates also made me realize that musicians are athletes, too. Now, I prioritize physical training to handle the demands of 90-minute to 3-hour concerts. You’ll often find me walking around the lake, at the Pilates studio, in my gym, or even in a boxing ring! Oh, and one last thing—I still don’t drive!

Alexandra Arrieche serves as Music Director of the Olympia Symphony Orchestra. She also serves as Music Director of the Henderson Symphony Orchestra in Nevada and as the Principal Conductor of the Antwerp Philharmonic Orchestra. 

alexandraarrieche.com