Australian-born Alex Stopa is in high demand as a drummer, percussionist, marimba soloist, and clinician. Praised for his “wonderfully creative musical instincts, dazzling technique and high-octane stage presence,” (Scott Stevens, New York Metropolitan Opera) he has performed extensively in the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Singapore, France, Belgium, Japan, and Hong Kong.
Dr. Stopa performs regularly as a percussionist and timpanist for the Las Vegas Philharmonic, Nevada Ballet Theater Orchestra, and Nevada Pops Orchestra. He can currently be heard playing drums for the musical, “Bat Out Of Hell”, nightly at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas.
He has performed with such artists as Aretha Franklin, Amy Grant, Idina Menzel, Placido Domingo, Donny and Marie Osmond, Weird Al Yankovic, Charo, Evanescence, and for Bad Bunny, Prince Royce, and Mana on the Latin Grammys. He has played in productions of “Wicked”, “The Lion King”, “Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular”, “Mary Poppins”, “Evita”, “Mamma Mia”, “The Producers”, “Le Reve”, and Cirque Du Soleil’s “Zarkana”. He also played drums for rock group "Big Talk" (the solo project of Ronnie Vannucci from "The Killers") with whom he performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live. In 2016 "Lincoln Center Originals" performed a number of short plays at the Lincoln Center in New York City that were inspired by the original music of his rock group "The Silver State."
As a marimba artist he won first prize in the James K. Huntziger Concerto Competition and gained considerable acclaim with awards at the Reno Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition, and Australian National Marimba Competition. As a passionate advocate of new music, Mr. Stopa has performed numerous world premieres including Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic’s "Magma" for solo marimba, and "Drifting on Winds and Currents" composed by Samuel Adler for the Las Vegas Philharmonic. He premiered Sir Peter Maxwell Davies work "A Glass of Frontignac" (the day after it was composed!) at the Barossa Festival in South Australia with the Elder New Music Ensemble.
In addition to his diverse performance career, Mr. Stopa is an enthusiastic educator who is always eager to share his passion for music with students of all ages. He is actively involved with educational outreach programs and frequently presents clinics and workshops. His recent appearances have included Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Australian National University, Victorian College of the Arts, Elder Conservatorium of Music, McNeese State University, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, South Dakota State University, Montana State University Billings, Winona State University, College of Southern Nevada, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Pana Percussion Institute, and the Las Vegas Drum Camp.
Alex Stopa endorses Sabian Cymbals, Majestic Percussion, Vic Firth drumsticks, and Remo drumheads. His original compositions and arrangements are published by Tapspace music.