K. Alexander Blanton earned a BA in Music from Augustana College (Rock Island, IL.) and an MM in Composition from the University of Missouri, where he studied composition with W. Thomas McKenney and Stefan Freund. Blanton's works have been performed by students and faculty at the University of Missouri and by various performers and ensembles throughout the United States. His Triptych for Woodwind Quartet was performed at the 2008 biannual convention of the Music Educators National Conference, which was held in Milwaukee, WI.
Active also as a performer, conductor, and educator; Mr. Blanton plays trumpet with the Ninth Street Philharmonic Orchestra (9spo), is the assistant director of the Missouri Youth Symphony, and currently holds an adjunct faculty position at the University of Missouri School of Music. Blanton has led university and community chamber ensembles in performances of both new works and standards of the fine art repertory. Through his position at the university, he teaches composition lessons to high school students throughout the state of Missouri.
