From Cats to Carroll: Alexandra Watson’s Magical Musical Journey

A love of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats led Old Girl (2014-2017) Alexandra Watson down a magical, musical path. Composer, soprano, lyricist and arranger Alexandra introduces us to a mystical world in her second musical, to be performed on Saturday, 28 September, at The Piano in collaboration with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra (CSO). 

“In some shape and form Cats was my inspiration and a catalyst. I loved how Andrew Lloyd Webber set poetry to music in a way that made it accessible to everyone, adults and children alike. I wanted to do the same thing with Lewis Carroll’s Nonsense Verse, creating a soundscape that embodied these non-sensical characters in a contemporary format.”

Written over several years, A Magical Musical Mystery began when Alexandra was studying at the University of Canterbury for her Master of Arts in Music, in both Composition and Performance, where she gained the necessary skills of orchestrating music. She then completed the musical as a passion project after graduating with distinction. 

Approaching CSO was a big step for Alexandra, “I am looking forward to hearing them perform my musical. We have two rehearsals scheduled before the performance. I am performing with soloists John Bayne and Naomi Ferguson, and solo saxophonist Helen Grout will be playing the connecting melodies.”

Originally from the UK, Alexandra has lived in Christchurch for the past 11 years. While at St Margaret’s College, she enjoyed music, speech & drama and participated in productions while learning multiple instruments. The University of Canterbury STAR music course pulled her into the tertiary world after Year 12. Musical and mathematical paths were chosen, and Alexandra gained both a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Music, but music won. Alexandra explains, “Maths and music connect, but it was the way you can hear poetry brought to life through music that inspired me.”

Alexandra is now forging her way in the musical world at speed. Next March, she will journey back to the UK to perform and support the cast in her first musical, The First Eight, performed at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. "As a pilot, I was particularly interested in the first eight women, a little-known group, in the Air Transport Auxiliary in WW2. They would ferry the planes to and from key positions in the UK, often putting themselves in danger to serve their country.”

Alexandra would like to thank her core sponsors, Creative New Zealand, as a recipient of the Early Career Fund, and Archibalds Christchurch for their contribution to this project.

A Magical Musical Mystery: In Concert with CSO
Saturday 28 September, The Piano
Two performances: 3.00pm and 7.00pm
Tickets from Eventfinda.