Alex Stobbs
Encyclopedia
Alexander 'Alex' 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 in 2008 and its sequel, Alex: A Passion for Life in 2009, also broadcast on Channel 4.
, Stobbs became a chorister at King's College, Cambridge
. It was here where he recorded for EMI
with King's an album
including Bach's Magnificat, which he would later conduct.
Stobbs was then a music scholar at Eton College
, where he conducted Johann Sebastian Bach
's Magnificat
in March 2007. He is now a choral scholar
at King's College, Cambridge
, where he studies music
. On 5 April 2009 he conducted Bach's St Matthew Passion at Cadogan Hall
, London (with Rodolfus Choir and Southbank Sinfonia
) in aid of others who suffer from cystic fibrosis.
In September 2009, his book A Passion for Living was published, a diary of his life during his A-levels and his preparation for conducting a performance of Bach's Matthew Passion in April 2009. The book was serialised in the Daily Mail
during September 2009 ahead of its publication.
and produced by Walker George Films
.
The first, A Boy Called Alex, followed Alex's determined and passionate attempt to conduct Bach's Magnificat
while suffering from cystic fibrosis
. It was broadcast in 2008 and was nominated for a BAFTA in 2009.
The second documentary, titled Alex: A Passion For Life was broadcast in October 2009. It showed 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
, always with the backdrop of his struggles with cystic fibrosis.
He also appeared on UK talkshow Richard & Judy
in January 2008, on which he performed Rachmaninov's Prelude in G Sharp minor, Op. 32/12.
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
with cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a recessive genetic disease affecting most critically the lungs, and also the pancreas, liver, and intestine...
who was the subject of the Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
Cutting Edge
Cutting Edge (Channel 4 TV series)
Cutting Edge is a British TV documentary series broadcast by Channel 4, it has been its flagship documentary series since 1990 that focuses on political and social issues.-Graham Taylor: The Impossible Job:Original airdate: 24 January 1994...
documentary A Boy Called Alex in 2008 and its sequel, Alex: A Passion for Life in 2009, also broadcast on Channel 4.
Early life
After an early education as an academic and music scholar at Stoke BrunswickStoke Brunswick School
Stoke Brunswick School was a small co-educational day and boarding independent school for children aged 3 to 13 years, situated in Ashurst Wood, West Sussex, near the town of East Grinstead. It was the former junior school , of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill...
, Stobbs became a chorister at King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
. It was here where he recorded for EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
with King's an album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
including Bach's Magnificat, which he would later conduct.
Stobbs was then a music scholar at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, where he conducted Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
's Magnificat
Magnificat (Bach)
The Magnificat in D major, BWV 243, is a major vocal work of Johann Sebastian Bach. It was composed for orchestra, a five-part choir and four or five soloists. The text is the canticle of Mary, mother of Jesus, as told by Luke the Evangelist .Bach composed an initial version in E flat major in 1723...
in March 2007. He is now a choral scholar
Choral scholar
A choral scholar is a student either at a university or private school who receives a scholarship in exchange for singing in the school or university's choir...
at King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
, where he studies music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
. On 5 April 2009 he conducted Bach's St Matthew Passion at Cadogan Hall
Cadogan Hall
Cadogan Hall is a 900-seat capacity concert hall on Sloane Terrace in Chelsea / Belgravia in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, United Kingdom...
, London (with Rodolfus Choir and Southbank Sinfonia
Southbank Sinfonia
Southbank Sinfonia describes itself as "Britain's Newest Orchestra and one of the most exciting projects in music for decades."...
) in aid of others who suffer from cystic fibrosis.
In September 2009, his book A Passion for Living was published, a diary of his life during his A-levels and his preparation for conducting a performance of Bach's Matthew Passion in April 2009. The book was serialised in the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
during September 2009 ahead of its publication.
Documentaries
Stobbs has been featured in two documentaries, each broadcast on Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
and produced by Walker George Films
Walker George Films
Founded in 2005 by Stephen Walker and Sally George, Walker George Films is a production company producing films for British television, including BBC, ITV and Channel 4....
.
The first, A Boy Called Alex, followed Alex's determined and passionate attempt to conduct Bach's Magnificat
Magnificat
The Magnificat — also known as the Song of Mary or the Canticle of Mary — is a canticle frequently sung liturgically in Christian church services. It is one of the eight most ancient Christian hymns and perhaps the earliest Marian hymn...
while suffering from cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis is a recessive genetic disease affecting most critically the lungs, and also the pancreas, liver, and intestine...
. It was broadcast in 2008 and was nominated for a BAFTA in 2009.
The second documentary, titled Alex: A Passion For Life was broadcast in October 2009. It showed 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
Cadogan Hall
Cadogan Hall is a 900-seat capacity concert hall on Sloane Terrace in Chelsea / Belgravia in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, United Kingdom...
, always with the backdrop of his struggles with cystic fibrosis.
He also appeared on UK talkshow Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy was a British magazine/chat show which was presented by married couple Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. It originally aired on Channel 4 from 2001 to 2008 but later moved to digital channel Watch in October 2008. It featured the world's most famous stars, along with their Book Club...
in January 2008, on which he performed Rachmaninov's Prelude in G Sharp minor, Op. 32/12.
Future plans
Stobbs is in his third year at King's College where he studies music. Whilst focusing on his degree, he is moving forward with plans to start up an orchestra under his direction - The Stobbs Scratch.External links
- Alex's Official Facebook Fanpage
- http://www.evewhite.co.uk/new/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,flypage_AD_la/product_id,92/category_id,41/manufacturer_id,11/option,com_virtuemart/Itemid,41/ 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, January 11, 2008
- "Cutting Edge" A Boy Called Alex (2008)
- Cutting Edge: A Boy Called Alex Free Video Clips from Channel 4
- As a musical genius with a killer disease, Alex won the public's heart. But what happened next? Mail Online article 6 December 2008