Biography

Dr. Alexander Pershounin has performed extensively throughout nationally and internationally in both jazz and classical settings. He has been featured as a performer, arranger, and composer on such internationally recognized music events as Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, Pori Jazz Festival in Finland, Europe’s Jazz Contest in Belgium, and New Orleans Jazz Fest, among many others.  His performing credits include collaboration projects and appearances with the world-class artists ranging from Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Golson, Bob Berg and Ray Charles to Itzhac Perlman and Yo Yo Ma. He has recorded several commercially released albums as a soloist and an ensemble musician. Dr. Pershounin holds music degrees from Russia’s most prestigious music institution, Gnessins' State Academy of Music in Moscow, as well as DMA and MFA degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Dr. Pershounin has joined the music faculty at University of Florida School of Music in the Fall 2024, teaching classical, jazz, and commercial double bass and bass guitar studio. Prior to UF he taught at the University of Northern Iowa, Columbus State University, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Westfield State College, and Gnessins’ State College of Music in Russia. His students won national and international competitions, were accepted to prestigious music institutions, and successfully developed their own professional careers as musicians.