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Musician Profile - Alex Jokipii
What is your hometown?
Escanaba, Michigan
How long have you been with the BPO?
9 years
What is your favorite part of being a member of the BPO?
I love my supportive and fun colleagues
What is your favorite piece of music?
Stravinsky, Firebird.
What other orchestras have you performed with?
New York Philharmonic, Itelsinki Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony, Charleston Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic
What types of music do you like to listen to?
Classic rock, jazz, Tower of Power
Do you play any other instruments?
No
What do you like to do in your free time?
Sabres games and golf and travel
What is your favorite movie?
No Way Out
What is your favorite TV show?
Any sporting event or Deadwood on HBO
What is your favorite restaurant?
Carmelo's in Lewiston
What do you like best about Buffalo?
Finding my wife here!
Biography
Alex Jokipii has held the position of Principal Trumpet with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra since 1998. A native of Escanaba, Michigan, Mr. Jokipii's earliest training in music began at the age of twelve when he took his first lessons on the B-flat trumpet his mother had kept from her days in the high school band.
Mr. Jokipii began his advanced musical studies at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, majoring in trumpet and music education, during which time he studied trumpet with Stephen Jones and Scott Thornburg.As part of his undergraduate curriculum he enrolled at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, where he studied for a year with Timofei Dokschitzer, the celebrated Principal Trumpet of the Bolshoi Theater Orchestra.
After returning from his European study and travel Mr. Jokipii completed his studies at UWM which awarded him a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. Upon graduation he matriculated to the Juilliard School of Music at Lincoln Center in New York City where he studied with Chris Gekker and Philip Smith of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
Mr. Jokipii received a Master of Music degree in trumpet performance from the Juilliard School.Shortly thereafter, he was engaged by the Charleston Symphony Orchestra where he held the position of Principal Trumpet from 1996-1998. During that time he also performed with the Spoleto Festival Brass Quintet and the Charleston Brass Quintet and served on the performance faculty of Charleston Southern University as Adjunct Professor of Trumpet. He appeared as a soloist at the 1992 and 1994 International Trumpet Guild Conferences and has also performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Helsinki Philharmonic, the Florida Orchestra and the Savannah Symphony.
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