Alex Thode (he/him/they) would first and foremost like for you to know that not only is the “e” at the end of his last name not silent, but that he is also a composer and arranger most known for his work in the pageantry arts. He resides in Waukesha, Wisconsin. An alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Alex composes and arranges for marching bands across the continental United States. Always aiming to infuse contemporary music with the classical, and the mainstream with the obscure, his marching band arrangements are known to stand out for their eclectic musical diversity.
Alex's clientele have been Bands of America (BOA) Regional Finalists, BOA Regional and Super Regional Class Champions, UIL Area Champions and State Finalists, WGI Winds World Champions. He has also had the privilege of having his arrangements performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Tournament of Roses Bandfest.
In addition to his compositions and arrangements for the pageantry arts, Alex also composes symphonic band and chamber percussion works. He is currently working on a large-scale percussion ensemble work that is set to premiere in early 2025.
In his free time, Alex enjoys watching movies and believing he’s a professional film critic, hiking and pretending that he’s athletic, traveling to National Parks — of which he’d eventually like to visit all — and acting like he’s Marco Polo, playing piano, guitar and a variety of kalimbas, and being with good company.