He won his first university-level competition at age 10, soloing with the Bowling Green State University Symphony Orchestra, and later (age 14) won a competition which then earned him to performance at NYC's Carnegie Hall, serving as Concertmaster under the direction of Joseph Silverstein for the National Guild Youth Symphony Orchestra. He continues to appear as guest soloist with orchestras at mu
sic festivals worldwide. Despite decades of intense classical training, Alex became interested in fiddling at age seven, and began competing in “fiddle” contests. He reigned as the Michigan State Fiddling Champion from 1994-1998, won the first-place trophy at the Walnut Valley National Fiddling Championship in Winfield, Kansas in 1999 and 2005, first place in the Hallettsville, TX “Gone to Texas" National Fiddling Championship in 2000, first place in the Alabama State fiddle contest in 2006 and 2007, and first place in the California State fiddle contest in 2007. Also in 2006, he was deemed, “Fiddle King” in Athens, AL (Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention). Alex served as a judge at the National Old-time Fiddling Championship (Weiser, ID) in 2008, and in 2010 and 2011, won first place in the Twin Fiddle division while ranking among the Top 10 finalists in the USA, via the "Open" Division, more formally known as "The Grand National Championship" division. Alex toured as Musical Director with Capitol Recording Artist, Chris Cagle, from 2000-2006. During that time, the singer was charted (Billboard's Top 100 Charts) many radio hits, including one #1 Single in the Country genre, "I Breathe In, I Breathe Out". Alex says of those years, "Hey, we had a good time on that bus, and shot a few Music Videos as well... add to that a handful of appearances at The Grand Ole Opry, it was a wonderfully exciting ride!"
In 2007, Mr. DePue auditioned, and then joined legendary rock guitarist Steve Vai, for a world tour that took the band across North America, South America and Europe. Alex’s YouTube videos are from all parts of the globe, but it was his #1 YouTube hit (featured for three weeks on YouTube's home-page), "Owner of a Lonely Heart/Smooth Criminal"' (Yes and Michael Jackson, respectively) had been viewed worldwide over four million times (re-posting), which drew the attention of Mr. Vai and his management.
2007 through 2010 wrought continued celebration for Vai's 2009 DVD release, “Steve Vai - Live in Minneapolis: Where the WILD THINGS Are”, the documented (with 16 cameras) culmination of the most recent three-year world tour with Steve Vai: a live concert music-movie that co-features DePue on electric violin and keyboard, along with the rest of the band). Its GRAMMY-nomination for "Best Live Rock Instrumental Performance" at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards for Vai's work, "Now We Run", along with the subsequent Gold Records awarded to each band/cast member by the Recording Industry Association of America, in recognition of “Gold” status, both in the US and Canada (Platinum Award from the Canadian Recording Industry Association), the last show as a full band, complete with "Vaiolins", was an all-out, drag-down knockout of a show with Orianthi, Joe Satriani, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the night now deemed Rock history at Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood, CA. Vai and DePue remain in touch, and continue to collaborate behind the scenes. Throughout his work with Steve Vai, Mr. DePue was introduced to Mexican guitarist, Miguel De Hoyos. From the first few notes the duo sounded together, until now, present day; the duo's unique international sound garnered interest from elected politicians and officials within the country of Mexico, and their spectacular musical performances have been praised by popular English-written publications like The Gr**go Gazette and The Baja Times. Their collective resumé reads more like a novel, with just as many press quotes from US publications (i.e., Kansas City Tribune, Toledo Blade, the impossible to find, well-sought-after music critic, George Varga, of The San Diego Union-Tribune, among many more.). In 2016, Alex DePue and Miguel De Hoyos were invited to be featured Artists for the "ArtsGames", in conjunction with the 2016 Summer Olympics; A valiant effort toward placing the Int'l spotlight back onto the Performing Arts, where divisions within the original set of contests which initially comprised The Olympics, were not only held, but actually required as much emphasis at the time (with regard to media coverage), as did the more physical, athletic contests! From the very inception of "The Olympics", and as originally prescribed by its Founder, Pierre de Coubertin, those divisions which initially centered on the Arts and then quietly disappeared in 1946, were especially in accordance with the series of competitions we now know as THE Olympics, today. The duo, undoubtedly, considered this invitation to Rio to participate as honored guests, and perform together alongside living legends like Oliver Jones (iconic jazz pianist from Montreal), Sheila E., and then, with the talent Chair as none other than Harry Belafonte himself, "DePue and De Hoyos" were amidst a small, distinguished crowd of Internationally celebrated performers gathered for this, the Global Launch of, "ArtsGames" (in conjunction with The Olympics) on August 11th, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Even now, just the mere mention of the duo's experience in Rio within this bio, has been enough to inspire even more Artists as they realize that this quest lives on, detailed within The Olympics' original mission statement, and in accordance with its Founder, so long ago. Then came along, armed with support and a ferocious attitude (former Olympics competitor herself), The ArtsGames CEO in 2012, Sylvia Sweeney. We can rest assured that The Performing Arts are to be, indeed, included, and here to stay within this piece of our global culture... because found under the thin surface of what we know as "The Olympics", and not too far past the sports events which are positioned to allow the organization to thrive, there still does exist the ArtsGames. The phrase alone, ArtsGames, using today's "jargon", is a global goal we should all consider as to what, exactly, our part may be. In seeing to it that the idea and its sentiment will live on, and that The Performing Arts will become included within those festivities and competitive environments responsible for having made The Olympics what it is today, we feel it is our duty to remind those who care, that the original rules make clear, not only are the Arts to be included? But, and in all honesty, the Arts were to take precedence. First Arts, then sports... add five rings. Alex and Miguel released their first recording, "Underground Whispers” in 2009 and the most recent recording of this unique sound, entitled, “Twisted Strings”, are both available online at www.alexdepue.com . With the increasingly popular DePue Brothers, including all violin-playing DePues, Wallace (former concertmaster, Philadelphia Pops), Jason (1st Vln. Philadelphia Orchestra) and Zachary (former concertmaster, Indianapolis Symphony and founding member of popular string trio "Time For Three"), Alex played on the soundtrack and composed one of the pieces for the Philadelphia Orchestra documentary, “Music from the Inside Out”, and the brothers have also recorded for NFL Films. Alex produced the band's first album, "Weapons of Grass Construction", and for over a decade, the DePue Brothers continued to tour their Holiday-Season smash show ("The DePue Brothers' Holiday Concert") each December, performing cuts from their follow-up album, "When It's Christmas Time", also produced by brother Alex. With the current condition of this world, the website had to be a sacrifice, but the brothers, as a unit, are still tight and ready to serve anyone interested. For more information on booking all four violin-playing brothers onto the same stage at the same time, please email [email protected] . In 2011, Mr. DePue launched “The DePue Brothers’ International Fiddle Competition”, to benefit music programs throughout his hometown (Bowling Green City Schools) and also released his second solo recording, STAGES, on which he is performing all instruments heard. That year, he performed in Chicago to an audience of 40,000 with actor/singer Kevin Costner. In 2015, Alex released yet another solo project entitled, "All 4 1", focused on the vast array of styles available to the violin, including all genres of music. Alex's most popular recording, "The Fiddler", was his first professional studio effort (1999) with a bluegrass vibe. His latest studio effort (2018) "Modern Paganini", has been extolled as one of the greatest fiddle records ever produced, and though eclectic, still seems to encompass a very driven, edgy Rock n Roll sound, overall. Each track was produced with the associated genre's radioAlex DePue's recordings can be found at iTunes:
With a background in classical violin, the ability to turn on a dime towards bluegrass fiddling, jazz, rock, and/or any improvisational style available to the instrument, Alex is also fluent on the viola, mandolin, guitar, bass, clarinet, saxophone, drums and piano. Alex DePue maintains a select number of students per year through private online instruction via Skype. If you are serious about studying the violin, please contact: [email protected] . Aside from extensive touring and teaching, Alex DePue spends his spare time as a record producer, and with his established OVNI Studio, will record on your project and send you back the new file within 24 hours. For more information:
www.alexdepue.com
