Biography

Alexander Koops joined the music faculty at Calvin in 2025. In addition to conducting the Calvin Orchestra, he is also the Coordinator of Music Education.

Dr. Koops brings a global and interdisciplinary approach to his work as a music educator, conductor, and performer. Born and raised in Jos, Nigeria, he holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in Music Education from the University of Southern California, with minors in orchestral conducting, music theory, and horn performance. He earned his B.A. in Music Education from �鶹�� and an M.M. in Wind Conducting from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he studied under renowned conductor Allan McMurray. He also trained in voice and opera conducting with Nicholas Laurienti, former Artistic Director of the Denver Opera Company. 

An active scholar, Dr. Koops is the author of Composition Concepts for Band and Orchestra: Incorporating Creativity in Ensemble Settings (2020). His work has been featured in major academic volumes, including:  

• Christian Higher Education Journal (2021)

• The Oxford Handbook of Music Composition Pedagogy (2024)     

• The Routledge Companion to Creativities in Music Education (2023)     

• Composing Our Future (Oxford University Press, 2012)     

• Musicianship: Composing in Band and Orchestra (GIA, 2013) 

In 2012, Dr. Koops was awarded a Fulbright grant to teach at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music in Riga, Latvia. His diverse teaching career includes positions in California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Michigan, where he has led professional, church, and university ensembles, including bands, orchestras, choirs, and opera. He served on the faculty of Azusa Pacific University (2001–2024) and the University of New Mexico (2024–2025), and previously taught at Denver Christian Schools, Rehoboth Christian School, and Fort Wingate High School. 

Dr. Koops continues to perform actively on horn, as well as clinic and adjudicate for school bands and orchestras, and lead professional development sessions for K-12 music educators, especially focusing on student creativity development. In his spare time he enjoys foraging and outdoor adventures including climbing, running, biking, swimming, and kayaking.    
 

Publications

• Christian Higher Education, 21(1–2), 58–81 (2021). Faith, Scholarship, and Service-Learning in Music Education: A Creative Approach.

• Musicianship: Teaching Composition in Band and Orchestra. GIA publications, 2013. Editorial committee. 

• Composition and Creativity: CMEA Southwestern Section Sets Goals. Fall 2016. CMEA State quarterly magazine publication. Tujunga, CA. volume 70. No. 1. p. 23-25. 

• Composition Concepts for Instrumental Music. Alexander Koops and John Whitener. 2020. Rowman Littlefield, New York. 

• Music Composition in Your Ensemble Rehearsal. Summer 2019. CMEA State quarterly magazine publication. Tujunga, CA. Vol. 72. Number 4. 

• Oxford Handbook of Music Composition Pedagogy. (January, 2024) Edited by Michele Kaschub. Oxford University Press, Ch. 7: Becoming a Composition Teacher. Alexander Koops 

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Awards and Grants

• 2019 Azusa Pacific University SURE Grant (Undergraduate Research Award) with Miguel Alvarez-Diaz III. “Music Fundamentals for Children with Disabilities” (Researching teaching tools and activities for working with special needs students in music education.) 

• 2019 Azusa Pacific University Community Engagement Faculty Award      
  This award recognizes a full-time faculty member who has clearly integrated APU’s Four Cornerstones—Christ, Scholarship, Community, and Service—in ways that significantly contribute to the reciprocal partnership between APU and the public and private sectors. Candidates may be selected on the basis of community-engaged scholarship, community-based research, academic service-learning, work that addresses issues of social justice, advancement of the university’s engagement in civic and democratic values, and efforts that inspire greater involvement in community engagement and service to others. 

• 2019 CMEA John Swain College/University Educator Award 
  The award honors a California music professor’s contribution to music education and for helping to shape the music education profession in a meaningful way for students and educators. Honoring Excellence in Music Education at the College/University Level. 

• 2017-18 APU Faith Integration Grant 
  Creativity Development Project with Bill Connor, International film composer. Worked with 3 local schools, the Azusa Conservatory of Music Community School, The APU Symphonic Band, the APU Gospel Choir, and the APU Studio Recording Orchestra in a year-long project developing students’ creative compositional ideas and producing a combined concert event at Purpose Church, Pomona. 

• 2012 Fulbright Scholar, Riga, Latvia (Spring Semester, Jan. -June) 
  Teaching: Taught an Introduction to Kodály music education class required for all music education majors; Wind Conducting Master classes; coached a student Brass Quintet; visited music schools around Latvia giving lectures and master classes in conducting and brass pedagogy; guest conductor for concert bands and a chamber winds ensemble; lectured on the state of wind bands for all the band directors in Latvia.     
  Adjudication: Adjudicated local, regional, and national festivals and competitions in instrumental music, including competitions in Latvia and Lithuania.