Biography
Swedish‑American classical guitarist whose work draws on four distinct guitar traditions: American, Russian, Serbian, and Swedish.
Studies
Born in Stockholm. Trained first as a pianist from the age of six, then as a guitarist from nine. Early development ran in parallel across classical, flamenco, and electric idioms — the latter shaped by years in progressive metal and neoclassical projects, and by studies and collaborations with Berklee guitar professor Bobby Stanton.
A Bachelor of Music in guitar performance was completed at McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 2008. Coursework spanned classical technique, jazz, drum studies, recording theory, arranging, and composition.
From 2020 to 2023, advanced classical guitar studies followed under Mikhail Nagornov, head of the guitar department at the Kazan State Conservatory named after N. G. Zhiganov. Currently completing a Master’s degree program that will be completed this summer at Slobomir P University (Bosnia & Herzegovina), with the performance component undertaken in Belgrade under Dušan Dimitrijević — one of the foremost figures in Serbian classical guitar.
Flamenco study has been done with Andreas Germek, from Austria, alongside earlier work in the same tradition during years in the United States.
Teaching
Teaching guitar to private students for over fifteen years, beginning in the Minneapolis–St. Paul area in the United States, followed by faculty teaching at Oslo kulturskole (the Oslo Municipal Culture School), Grønland Culture Station branch, in Norway.
Specialties on classical guitar include the tremolo technique. Flamenco instruction covers the principal palos — bulerías, farruca, malagueña, rumba, taranta — with attention to the traditional rasgueado vocabulary. Electric guitar lessons follow Berklee‑proven methods: arpeggio and two‑note‑per‑string scale work, reading and ear training, tapping, and sweep picking.
Performance
Alexander performs as a soloist and as one half of The Danube Duet, a mandolin‑and‑classical‑guitar ensemble formed in 2025 with Russian mandolinist Tatyana Koryukina, a Master's graduate of the Kazan State Conservatory. The duo debuted in Belgrade in April 2026, and continues an active concert programme across Serbia and central Europe. Concert repertoire spans Italian, French, modern, and Russian guitar traditions, alongside arrangements and contemporary works for mandolin and guitar.
Instruments
Concert performances are given on a guitar built by Russian luthier Simeon Yolkin, modelled after an 1888 instrument by Antonio de Torres — the maker who effectively established the modern classical guitar. Flamenco work is performed on an Esteve Alegría Flamenca.