Alex Stobbs
 | This article contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. (February 2024) |
Alexander Brett Stobbs (born 30 January 1990), (Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England) is a British musician with cystic fibrosis who was the subject of the Channel 4 Cutting Edge documentary A Boy Called Alex[1] in 2008 and its sequel, Alex: A Passion for Life[2] in 2009.
Early life
[edit]After completing his academic and musical studies at Stoke Brunswick, Stobbs joined the choir of King's College, Cambridge. During his time as a chorister, he participated in a recording of Johann Sebastian Bach's Magnificat with King's College for EMI, a piece he would later conduct. As a choral scholar at King's College, he studied music and on 5 April 2009, conducted Bach's St Matthew Passion at Cadogan Hall in London, featuring the Rodolfus Choir and Southbank Sinfonia. This performance was in support of individuals living with cystic fibrosis. Stobbs drew early inspiration from the works of Walter de la Mare and British novelist Jo Rowling. He continued his music education as a scholar at Eton College, where he conducted Bach's Magnificat in March 2007.
In September 2009, he published A Passion for Living, a diary detailing his experiences during his A-levels and his preparation for performing Bach's Matthew Passion. In July 2018, Stobbs received third prize in the Joan Chissell Schumann Prize for Piano at the Royal College of Music.[1]
Documentaries
[edit]His story and accomplishments were featured in two television documentaries. Both were directed by Paddy Wivell, produced by Walker George Films, and broadcast on Channel 4.
The first, A Boy Called Alex,[2] followed Alex's efforts to conduct Bach's Magnificat while living with cystic fibrosis.[3] It aired in 2008 and received a BAFTA nomination in 2009.[4]
The second documentary, titled Alex: A Passion For Life, was broadcast in October 2009. It documented Stobbs' first year at King's College, Cambridge, as he prepared to conduct Bach's Matthew Passion with a full orchestra in the Cadogan Hall, highlighting his experiences with cystic fibrosis.[5][6]
Additionally, he appeared on the UK talk show Richard & Judy in January 2008, on which he performed Rachmaninov's Prelude in G sharp minor, Op. 32/12.
References
[edit]- ^ a b RCM 6 July 2018 Graduation Ceremony Programme
- ^ a b Stobbs, Alex (22 December 2022). "A wonder drug has given me back my musical career – and my life". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ "Archived item". Archived from the original on 16 April 2009. Retrieved 2011-12-23.
- ^ "Television Awards Winners in 2009 - Television - Awards - the BAFTA site". Archived from the original on 21 November 2010. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
- ^ "Alex: A Passion for Life". Archived from the original on 27 September 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
- ^ Stobbs, Alex (22 December 2022). "A wonder drug has given me back my musical career – and my life". The Telegraph. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
External links
[edit]- Alex's Official Facebook Fanpage
- A Passion for Living Literary Agent Listing
- The Matthew Passion Project Website
- Alex Stobbs: Singing from his own hymn sheet The Telegraph, 7 September 2009
- The Passion of Alex Cambridge News article, 24 January 2009
- The privilege of educating Alex Times Online article, 11 January 2008
- "Cutting Edge" A Boy Called Alex (2008)
- Cutting Edge: A Boy Called Alex Free Video Clips from Channel 4
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- 1990 births
- Living people
- British classical musicians
- People from Royal Tunbridge Wells
- British male conductors (music)
- People educated at Eton College
- Bach conductors
- Alumni of King's College, Cambridge
- 21st-century British conductors (music)
- People with cystic fibrosis
- British people with disabilities
- British musicians with disabilities