Alex Tedrow is a Herbert Presidential Scholar from the class of 2021 and an IU Jacobs School of Music alumnus. He serves as Staff Music Arranger for the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own”, is the sole composer of this year’s fanfare for the presidential inauguration, and is a freelance composer for nationally-aired PBS documentaries. Tedrow holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Composition degree with minors in music education, conducting, and electronic music, as well as dual master’s degrees of Master of Music in Music Composition and Master of Science in Music Education from the Jacobs School.
Tedrow, who grew up in a rural, southern town in Indiana made the decision to pursue music as a career during high school after watching an Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra concert, his first live, professional orchestra concert. Tedrow was blown away by the performance and worked weekends at a gas station to pay for music lessons to put him on the trajectory of becoming a professional musician.
Tedrow attributes his success to his time spent at the Jacobs school. He believes Jacobs is one of the best music schools in the world. During his time at Jacobs, Tedrow worked and collaborated with amazing musicians, took advantage of incredible resources, and operated like a musician in the professional world. He believes Jacobs turned him into a multi-faceted musician.
Tedrow is thankful for the scholarship programs that allowed him to attend IU—scholarships like the Herbert Presidential Scholarship. He said, “The Herbert Scholarship was one of the big reasons I was able to attend IU in the first place and ultimately end up with my current role, so I am immensely grateful!” The HPS Program allowed him to study abroad during his undergraduate years, graduate without debt, and gain the confidence to pursue a music career.
Tedrow says the most rewarding part of his job is the variety of tasks he is given, making every day a new adventure. From composing music for events to performing, Tedrow says it’s an “everything job, and that is really what I crave in music.” He also says he’s grateful to be surrounded by such cool people every day and to work with talented musicians.
From a small-town Hoosier with big dreams to writing compositions played on international stages and screens, Tedrow is a perfect example of a hard-working Herbert Presidential Scholar. Tedrow says if there is one piece of advice he could give current scholars, it would be to “seek out all the connections you can and be a genuine person.” He says making real connections, friends, and colleagues, and being willing to listen to other people and help them makes you a more multifaceted person.
The Herbert Presidential Scholars Program is proud of Alex, and other alumni like him, who are living proof of the quality of an IU education. Tedrow is one of Indiana’s best and brightest, and we can’t wait to hear what he will do next.