Jackson Alderman
Viola
Born and raised on a farm in rural Maryland, Jackson Alderman began playing the viola in the third grade. He received scholarships in high school to study at the Peabody Preparatory where he studied with Louise Hildreth-Grasso. Jackson holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from West Virginia University where he studied with Andrea Priester Houde. There he graduated summa cum laude and received awards such as the Presser Foundation Undergraduate Scholar Award and the Valerie Canady Charitable Trust Foundation Scholarship. Jackson often collaborates with public school music educators and has become a sought-after clinician having run ensembles for various after school programs and festivals such as West Virginia String Day. During his undergraduate degree, Jackson held a position as a music ministries assistant where he accompanied choirs on piano and organ and worked alongside the program director to lead rehearsals and program music for weekly services. He plays with the Chesapeake Symphony Orchestra during their annual summer River Concert Series and has also played with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra during their annual Artscape festival. He has also attended summer festivals such as the Brevard College Orchestral Institute and the National Music Festival. Jackson is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Viola Performance from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where he studies with Hillary Herndon. When not teaching or performing, Jackson loves to hike and play with his dogs.