Australian-born Alex Stopa is an Emmy award winning drummer, percussionist, marimba soloist, and composer. 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 is a unique breed of performer who is equally at home in a classical concert hall, jazz club, rock show, music theatre pit, or large-scale Cirque Du Soleil production. As a composer, his works reflect this versatility, drawing inspiration from classical, jazz, pop, rock, world music, and other diverse styles. His compositions blur the lines between genres and influences, and are frequently performed around the world.
Dr. Stopa performs regularly as a percussionist and timpanist for the Las Vegas Philharmonic, Nevada Ballet Theater Orchestra, and Nevada Pops Orchestra. He has performed with such artists as Aretha Franklin, Amy Grant, Idina Menzel, Placido Domingo, Donny and Marie Osmond, Weird Al Yankovic, Johnny Mathis, Charo, Evanescence, in productions of “Le Reve”, Cirque Du Soleil’s “Zarkana”, “Wicked”, “The Lion King”, “Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular”, and for the Latin Grammys. 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, a series of short plays inspired by the music of his group “The Silver State”, were performed at Lincoln Center in New York City.
An enthusiastic educator, Dr. Stopa is always eager to share his passion for music with students of all ages. He is actively involved in educational outreach programs and has presented clinics and workshops at numerous universities including Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Australian National University, Victorian College of the Arts, Elder Conservatorium of Music, University of Texas San Antonio, University of Pittsburgh, and University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. He is currently part-time faculty at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the College of Southern Nevada.
Alex Stopa endorses Sabian Cymbals, Majestic Percussion, Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, and Remo drumheads. His works are published by Tapspace.