The maestro strikes again.
Paul Alexander commemorates his 20th season coaching the Bengals offensive line the only way he can. Alexander, a classical pianist and singer, is scheduled to conduct the Hamilton-Fairfield Symphony Orchestra and Chorale during the May 3 Ohio Mozart Grand Finale Concert. The date is set for 7:30 p.m. at The First Baptist Church in Hamilton at 501 Pyramid Hill Blvd.
Alexander, a friend of conductor Paul John Stanbery, is going to take the podium for "Eine Kleine Nachtmuzik," what Stanbery says may be Mozart's most famous piece.
After lunching with him last year, Stanbery discovered a natural kinship with Alexander. While Stanbery wanted to talk to him about football coaches like Bo Schembechler, Alexander wanted to talk to him about orchestras like the New York Philharmonic. Eventually Stanberry challenged him to take it to the next level and conduct and he is now conducting Alexander in weekly classes.
"He said it was a lifelong dream to conduct a symphony orchestra and I told him, 'Consider it done,'" Stanbery said Wednesday. "He's a fine, fine musician. It's a natural transition. Music is a lot like football. He's physically aware, which you have to be as a conductor. It's all rhythm and counting and numbers. It's starting to get intense."
Alexander, who ended one of his talks at a recent coaching clinic with a recording of Stanbery's orchestra, can relate the playbook to the sheet music.
"It's fascinating leadership," Alexander said. "Trying to get people to be perfectly in sync and in harmony as if they are one voice, it's just like coaching football."
