This isn’t your typical rock star story about a boy discovered while singing his songs on YouTube. This is the tale of real-life guitar playing virtuoso Dr. Alexander Dunn, a professor at the University of Victoria, who started the philanthropic non-profit organization, the Victoria Guitar Society (VGS), almost 30 years ago.
The VGS organizes concerts and teaching opportunities for local professionals, students and some of the world’s best guitarists and lutenists. It also sponsors up-and-coming talent from all over the world. Alex has made Victoria, BC a first-choice destination for guitar players across the globe.
Recently, Alex was a pivotal player in helping four Syrian musicians escape their war-torn country and ultimately arrive safely in Victoria. Orwa Al Sharaa, Gaby Al Botros, Nazir Salameh and Mir Mahmoud – The Orontes Guitar Quartet – are survivors. They’ve been bombed, shelled and had cars explode before their eyes. During their last performance at the Damascus Opera House in Syria, a bomb exploded outside the theatre, transforming their concert into the front lines. The band was shaken to its core. They didn’t know whether to continue the performance but, incredibly, a group of audience members stayed. They ignored the hell of war and let music be their sanctuary.
“When we started to play, we forgot everything and just focused on the music,” Mir Mahmoud recalls.
Eventually, the band was able to relocate to Lebanon.
“They came to the University of Victoria through the auspices of the Artist Protection Fund (APF), a NYC-based initiative of the Institute of International Education, and the first collective to be named fellows by the APF. Due to the Trump travel ban, however, The Orontes could not be placed in the US,” says Alex. “Because of my relationship with Austin-based Susan McDonald, their mentor, who founded the group and steered them towards the APF, it was clear that Canada was the best choice and the University of Victoria was a natural host institution and musical home.”
To secure the quartet’s arrival in Canada, Alex worked closely for 18 months with the Artist Protection Fund, UVic, and the non-profit organization Remember the River.
But Alex is most proud of his work at the Victoria Guitar Society.
“We formed the non-profit society to bring top international soloists to Victoria,” he says. “We focus on virtuosity and musicianship, regularly presenting international competition winners, established performers and emerging talent – plus featuring local players.”
Over the past several seasons, VGS has had players from Russia, the US, France, Denmark, Spain, Canada, Cuba and many other countries. Some of the recognizable musicians include Artyom Dervoed, Ana Vidovic, Paul Galbraith and Roland Dyens. The VGS outreach efforts take classical guitar into retirement homes, summer bandshell concerts, seasonal Victoria airport appearances and embraces other efforts to bring their music into public spaces.
As well, the VGS encourage youth to study music and notes the positive influence it has on peoples’ lives. The institution partners with other organizations, like the Conservatory of Music, in aiding the Summer Guitar Academy – a fun week in July where professional players and students gather to share their art, rehearse in an ensemble, play, hear concerts and learn.
Alex’s educational journey has taken him across the globe. Perhaps the turning point in his musical exploration occurred when he met Pepe Romero.
“I first heard Pepe Romero in San Francisco and told him I wanted to study with him,” he recalls. “The next thing I knew, I was in La Jolla auditioning for UCSD [University of California San Diego]. While working on a PHD, I began performing with the Romero quartet.”
Immediately after completing his doctorate, Alex was hired by the University of Victoria and revamped their guitar program. The university awarded Pepe Romero an honorary doctorate, and he started coming to BC to perform duo concerts with Alex. They performed together on several CBC national broadcasts with an orchestra.
“When I perform with Pepe, I feel a oneness that is hard to put into words.”
From these experiences, Alex developed a taste for travel and has been fortunate enough to visit many countries, including Eastern Europe, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, Hong Kong and China, as a soloist.
“My students have gone on to great music careers, teaching and performing in Canada, the US and Europe,” he says.
And Victoria has earned the reputation as one of the best guitar programs in Canada, which was achieved through hard work and persistence. Alex’s program is recognized in the guitar world as a place where people come to train in technique, serious repertoire and to absorb knowledge from their many visitors.
Alex promises to continue to present the finest players and to encourage young talent through education, outreach and opportunities. And he’ll keep promoting the guitar as a concert medium; insist on serious repertoire from all musical periods; and work to reach out into communities to bring music to places where it hasn’t been – but should be – accessible to all.
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Fascinating story!