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Alex Stopa, M.M.

History of Rock Music

Biography

Praised for his "wonderfully creative musical instincts, dazzling technique and high-octane stage presence", Australian-born Alex Stopa is in high demand as a drummer, percussionist, marimba soloist, and clinician.

A highly versatile artist in many diverse genres, Stopa has performed extensively in the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Singapore, France, Belgium, Japan, and Hong Kong. Stopa performs regularly as a percussionist and timpanist for the Las Vegas Philharmonic and Nevada Pops Orchestra and as drummer for the rock group "Big Talk" (the solo project of Ronnie Vannucci from "The Killers") with whom he performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live. He has performed with such artists as Aretha Franklin, Idina Menzel, Prince Royce, Maná, and Buddy Greco, in productions of "Wicked", "The Lion King", "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular", "Mary Poppins", "The Addams Family", "Mamma Mia!", and "The Producers", and as a percussionist for the Latin Grammys, Dallas Brass, Nevada Ballet Theater Orchestra, and Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

Stopa has recorded extensively and can be heard on Klavier Records, Arsis Audio, Young American Records, Recordhead and Mark Custom record labels, and on the soundtrack to the movie The Project. His original compositions and arrangements are published by Tapspace music. His teachers include Keiko Abe, Bogdan Bacanu, Dr. Dean Gronemeier, and James Bailey. He holds a Bachelor of Music from the Elder Conservatorium (Australia) and a Master of Music Degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He currently resides in Las Vegas where he serves as adjunct faculty at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and is completing a Doctor of Musical Arts. Stopa endorses Sabian Cymbals and Majestic Percussion instruments.