Alexander McLaughlin

A native of Erie, Pennsylvania, Alex began study of double bass at the age of 19 while completing an undergraduate degree in Music Therapy and Psychology (Mercyhurst University, 2015) and continued study of double bass at Cincinnati Conservatory (CCM, MM, 2018). Afterward, Alex served as a teaching assistant in both double bass and jazz studies at The Pennsylvania State University (PSU) (MMus 2022). While a teaching assistant, Alex directed

Outer Dimensions Big Band (including a workshop residency with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra), coached jazz combos, co-taught courses in improvisation and jazz theory, assisted students with proficiencies in jazz piano, and maintained a studio of undergraduate bassists. His study also includes the Chautauqua Institution’s Music School Festival Orchestra (CHQ) (2018, 2019), James VanDemark’s Double Bass Intensive (2020, 2021), and Brevard Music Center’s Jazz Institute (2019, 2022) where he recently fulfilled the role of assistant under Rodney Whitaker and Michael Dease. Principal teachers include Rachel Calin (CCM), Owen Lee (CCM), Curtis Burris (CHQ), Josh Davis (PSU), and James VanDemark (Eastman School of Music). In addition to freelance work in Erie, Cincinnati, and State College, Alex has recently performed alongside Michael Davis, Chuck Redd, Bill Reichenbach, Mark Ferber, Vardan Ovsepian, and CoCo Smith (Book of Mormon) for their off-Broadway solo debut.