Rising Stars: Meet Alexandra Delgado

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Delgado.

Hi Alexandra, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story begins in kindergarten. There is a piano in the classroom or in the hallway. I don’t recall exactly. And children pass by and play short melodies. I’m astounded by the beauty of the instrument. I want to play so badly but I don’t know how. And I don’t dare even pressing on a key. It seems daunting. And then one day, months later, my mother asks me if I want to learn an instrument. Say what now??? Well of course! And she asks if I prefer the piano, the violin or the cello. My obvious answer is the piano. But it is only obvious to myself as I have never vocalized this desire. So she takes me to an audition being held at a very elegant and intimidating building. It had once served as a courthouse and had aptly become a music conservatory. The judging continued! All this following an ad she had seen in the newspaper. I’m five or six and it’s the mid-70’s. We’re in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The provincial government is offering full scholarship to educate children musically from the very start. I learned later that several hundred children had applied and that they picked only a handful. Why they chose me I’ll never know. I’m not sure they sensed potential as much as a strong will to learn. Who knows. I didn’t even know where middle C was. I was standing in front of a panel of adults. They looked old and maybe some of them were. But I sensed they were kind. They asked me to sing a song. So I sang Frère Jacques which is the equivalent of Mary Had A Little Lamb. The little ditty that everyone knows as a child. Then taking into account my complete lack of keyboard knowledge they would play a note and I had to sing it back to them without naming the actual note. And well that was that. Must have taken less then ten minutes.
I don’t remember the gap between the audition and the response. I didn’t think much of it. I’m a young child and still living very much in the present moment. One day my mother tells me that I’ve been accepted and that I will start piano in a few months. I don’t recall my reaction. But what I absolutely recall is coming home on another day and right there in the living room is a piano! Yes – a piano! In my very home! I start « playing » right away! Oh the sound! How I love the sound!
It would take months between the acquisition of this treasure and my first piano lesson. But I played all the time. And how so? Well I would narrate stories on the piano. In my head I would tell myself the story of Little Red Riding Hood and would press the keys accordingly. Little Red Riding Hood up top. The grandmother in the middle and of course the big bad wolf in the bass notes. Then I would scrawl this on a sheet of white paper. In hindsight I began composing before I started playing. Writing music is what I do now. It sits at the core of my being.
And now the general bio part : I graduated with top honors in piano from the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal and went to Paris where I obtained a Master’s in musicology at the Sorbonne university. How grand sounding. But I practiced like all classical musicians. An insane amount. I’m composing on the side but I don’t feel I have the genius to become a « real » composer. Can anyone define real? And must one be a genius? While in Paris I sign up for composition lessons too. I show my teacher what I’ve composed so far. Ashes from his Gitanes cigarettes are falling on my pages. It’s the 90’s but as far cigarettes are concerned the French inhale like it’s the 1950’s. His name is Claude Ballif. A teacher I respect very much. And then his verdict : you have an absolute need to express your soul through music. That’s it. He doesn’t say good or bad. So very wise. I was so insecure. It was a cello piece dripping in pathos. In hind sight not very good but I am allowed to come back to the following class and then to sign up officially.
What I learn through his lessons is polish, refinement. A cascade of notes won’t make a piece better. He wouldn’t say much. Would simply point out a note. And you knew that was the pivotal part on which to work. He talked to the class about melody. To make a line sing. And he would have us moving lines right left and center to make them interesting, unexpected but above all heart wrenching poetic. Maybe to the untrained ear they were dry. We studied atonal music. Dodecaphonic music. Imagine when I reveal to him that I also write melodies. Like pop melodies! But he’s curious to listen to them. When he does the verdict is in : that of mine having a gift for melodies. And then his admission : he lacks this gift (well at least according to himself). He adds that composing a good melody is the most difficult feat of all. Please understand this musician. A truly successful composer published in France and Germany. The Mecca of the classical world. An inner ear to kill for. Complex compositions way before any kind of digital playback. His humbleness is dumbfounding. Since then I’ve recorded four albums of original songs in various styles : pop, latin, children’s music. I restarted composing classical music later in life accepting that melody guides me no matter what style of music. And also realizing that the concept of genius or real are completely and utterly irrelevant.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
If only it had been a smooth road. Or at least a less rocky one. But that’s life for you. Wrenches here. Bumps over there. So many piano exams and competitions. Forever practicing. Who forced me? No one. No one at all. I loved music. I loved listening to my fingers making this music. It was magical. But the stress took its toll. Not only psychologically but physically. Tendinitis forced me to a full stop in my late teens. Today teachers are much more educated on this aspect. Practice less but practice better. Mindfulness. Visualization. Even meditation for some. All concepts that were unheard of while I was studying. I finally healed and decided to continue in music. But I never got the stamina back needed to be a concert pianist.
So what do I do? I’m already teaching piano. But is that what I want to do full time? And what about all these melodies in my head? So finally in my early thirties, yup, would have been a cooler story if I would have said in my mid-teens but oh those bumps and wrenches (many in my head…). I record a demo that becomes an album. I name it Del Gado. Later I try to changing it to Alexandra Delgado. There’s a song there called Indecision. That sums it up… You can find it on Spotify and most streaming platforms. There also is Indecision no. IV that appears on my next album called Lucky no.7 by Alexandra and the Herrings. Which is basically me with all the voices swimming in my brain (and singing back-ups) The obstacles? Forever financial. It is expensive to record music. The studio. The producer. So I teach, teach and forever teach. But somehow through shows in and around Montreal I can finance my next album with CD sales. Remember those? And following my daughter’s birth I record a children’s album called Kissy Kissy Time. I’m still teaching full time but I find the time for shows and the CD is selling well. And suddenly the well dries up. Streaming has set in. Though I can boast millions of streams by now the amount earned is paltry. For my second children’s album I solicit the public through crowdfunding. The album gets done. I love it! But I do not enjoy the experience of asking for donations.
Yes – today is a brave new world of social media. Be out there. Solicit. Post. Post again. Post some more. For all my exuberance in real life I’m not too at ease with this medium. Yes, to me it’s an obstacle. I have to work harder on my mindset. For a musician in this day and age it’s an absolute asset. There can be joy in posting. In connecting. Sharing one’s passion enriches the lives of others.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
When people ask me what I do I generally say I’m a piano teacher since most of my income is earned through lessons. It’s more recently that I state that I’m a piano teacher and a composer on an even keel. But let there be no misunderstanding. I truly enjoy teaching piano. I love showing children the magic of melody and harmony. I love the spark and wonder in their eyes and ears. They are a true source of inspiration. I’ve written countless pieces for them and continue to do so to this day. But back to the question of what I do. It’s about framing the concept. Does the answer have to come down to income only? If not my answer is much more vast : I’m a composer in various musical styles. I’m a prolific songwriter in English, French and Spanish. I’m a poet. I’m a singer/songwriter. But most of all I like to laugh! That last one came out of nowhere but there you have it!
I’ve been asked what makes me proud. It is when I reach the end of a project. Not just writing a piece. Publishing it. Sounds easy but it’s a long process. And then putting it « out there ». Having someone play it or promoting a video. From an initial melody in my head to its title on a concert program is always a feat. Performances keep music alive so that’s part of what keeps me going. On December 6, 2026 one such finished project will take place. The piece for mezzo-soprano and piano entitled « In the Twilight of the Evening » will have its world premier in Montreal, Canada.
The following is a short list of some of my music. A more extensive list can be found on my website. The albums are available on streaming. The piano parts are sold as books and in pdf formats :

DEL GADO – World beat/jazz influenced album – original songs
LUCKY NO.7 – Alexandra and the Herrings – nutty electro pop – original songs
KISSY KISSY TIME – original children’s music – English,French and Spanish
LE CARNAVAL DES TOUTOUS (The Carnaval of Teddies) – original French children songs

LITTLE TALES VOL.1 – piano beginner’s level
LITTLE TALES VOL.2 – piano late beginner/early intermediate level
TALES VOL.3 – piano intermediate level

ODE TO WINE AND PARIS – YouTube – sheetmusicdirect.com
IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME – YouTube – sheetmusicdirect.com
EN LUI, EN ELLE, EN L’UNIVERS – YouTube

How do you think about happiness?
My daughter makes me happy. She personifies the miracle of life. Music makes me happy. It makes my soul come alive.

Pricing:

• 70$/hour piano lesson
• 500$ commission piece/solo instrumenty
• 1000$commission piece/duet
• 2500$commission piece/small ensemble

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.alexandradelgado.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redpianorouge/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@alexandradelgadoPiano

Image Credits
Personal Photo : Sabrina Trempe-Delgado
Photo in green dress : Sandra Yanez
Multiple pics in one image : Elisa Mannings
Lucky Number 7 art work : Marie Belzil