Profiles

Dr. Alexander Koops oversees the music education program and conducts the university orchestra at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  Born and raised in Jos, Nigeria, he holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in music education from the University of Southern California, with minors in orchestral conducting, music theory, and horn performance. He earned his bachelor’s in music education from Calvin University and a Master of Music degree in wind conducting from the University of Colorado Boulder. He also trained in voice and opera conducting with Nicholas Laurienti, former artistic director of the Denver Opera Company. 

An active scholar, Dr. Koops is the author of Composition Concepts for Band and Orchestra: Incorporating Creativity in Ensemble Settings (2020). His research and writing also has been featured in many major academic volumes 

In 2012, Dr. Koops was awarded a Fulbright grant to teach at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music in Riga, Latvia. 

Koops continues to perform actively on horn, adjudicate for school bands and orchestras, and lead professional development sessions for K–12 music educators focusing on student creativity development. In his spare time he enjoys foraging and outdoor adventures, including climbing, running, biking, swimming, and kayaking.