Alexander Palmer is a successful film, television and video game composer, arranger and musical director. After graduating from Trinity Grammar School with an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma in 2009, Alexander studied Music at the prestigious University of Cambridge in the UK and then Scoring for Film, Television and Video Games at Berklee College of Music’s Spanish campus in Valencia.
Developing a passion for Music
Alexander Palmer spent 14 years at Trinity Grammar School where he developed a passion for music and languages. Reflecting on his time at Trinity, Alex particularly enjoyed his senior years where he was able to specialise in subjects of interest to him and participate in a broad range of extra-curricular activities. “The music and languages departments in particular were continual sources of stimulation and happiness,” Alex said.
Alex remembers a group music class in Year 3 where students were encouraged to select different mallet instruments and play simple songs in big groups. “It was a great way of teaching kids who are too young for true orchestras or other musical ensembles that group music-making is very powerful,” Alex said. He credits a number of Trinity Grammar School teachers for inspiring his passion for music.
Having studied Music at school for ten years it is little wonder this accomplished 22-year old travelled in this direction as his chosen career path. Alex was keen to study Music at the University of Cambridge as he felt he would receive a more rigorous academic instruction in music compared with the more contemporary and flexible courses on offer in Australia. His decision to study the School’s IB Diploma certainly put him in good stead to achieve this goal as the programme is widely recognised throughout the world by universities and employers.
International Baccalaureate
Alex believes the International Baccalaureate programme provided him with the grounding and confidence to tackle the rigours of an undergraduate degree at one of the world’s most prestigious universities.
Trinity has a proud history of producing fine IB graduates and in 2014, the School achieved its best ever IB results. The average score of Trinity Grammar School candidates was a staggering 39.05, almost ten points higher than the world average of 29.95.
Trinity has offered the IB Diploma to Year 11 and 12 students for the past 16 years. Today, over 25% of senior students undertake this challenging course, crediting its international outlook, broad variety of subjects and its reputation for providing ideal preparation for tertiary studies.
A global citizen
Sydney | USA | UK | Spain – Alex’s CV reads like an airport departure board. He is as much at home in Europe and America than he is in his hometown of Sydney. This is testament to the international outlook offered through the IB and the growing trend to develop global citizens. “I really appreciated the foreign language study [of the IB Diploma] because it always gives you an affinity with a foreign country and often, the opportunity for highly stimulating travel experiences,” Alex said.
Student feedback
“Every Trinity boy should know that it is always worth choosing subjects and following paths which extend them and help them diversify their talents and knowledge,” Alexander said.
“With a wide range of activities on offer, the School is the perfect place to grow into an individual with a number of talents, both inside and outside of the classroom.”
Alexander Palmer (2009)
From the Director of Music
“Alex was always a fine musician and from an early age he excelled both vocally and as a Cellist. He was a real musical all-rounder who heavily involved himself in every musical event possible while not neglecting his academic study. He enjoyed life at Trinity and lived it to the full, a true ‘renaissance man’. Mr Phil Pratt
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