Alex Shelbourne

Alex is a writer, composer, and teaching artist born in Bakersfield, California and currently based in Manhattan. Primarily a guitar-based composer, his works often aim to integrate the poetic storytelling techniques of the singer/songwriter and folk genres into the musical theatre medium. In 2020, he received a Bachelor of Music in Music Theory & Composition from NYU Steinhardt. In 2021, he graduated from the Advanced Playwriting program at the National Theater Institute, and in 2022 he received a Certificate in Playwriting from the Dramatists Guild Institute, 

 

As a songwriter, Alex's music has been selected for showcases throughout the city, such as the 2019 New York Musical Festival, Gallatin Theatre Cabaret, The First Stages Showcase, and Lamplighters’ New Works Festival, and he is a musical theatre composer-in-residence for the New York Youth Symphony’s 2019/20 season. His works have been workshopped by Broadway giants such as Alan Menken, Alex Lacamoire, and Steven Lutvak.

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His first full-length musical, Crucible, PA, of which he wrote the book, music, and lyrics, was recently produced by From Scratch Productions and achieved a sold-out run at The Duplex. His upcoming stage project Urban Waltzes is currently in the works.

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As a teaching artist, he seeks to integrate diverse musical techniques from around the world into music learning, encouraging the use of modern tools and concepts to push the bounds of traditionally Euro-centric music skills. He specializes in adapting and implementing curriculum to accommodate the musical tastes and ambitions of each student, whether looking to simply increase music appreciation, gain collaborative skills, or pursue a career as a professional musician.

 

He is very excited to join The Gateway School in the Fall as Lead Music Teacher, where he will continue Gateway's mission of transforming the lives of bright students with language-based learning disabilities and attention deficits.

 

Additionally, he founded Born In A Shell Music Lessons, within which Alex has taught private lessons for the past five years.

 

He is a proud member of ASCAP and the Dramatists Guild.

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