Dr. Francisco Javier de Alba

He/Him

Dr. Francisco Javier de Alba, known professionally as Dr. Paco, is a clarinetist, composer, and educator based in Phoenix, Arizona. He maintains an active career as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral performer, with appearances across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. He performs regularly with the Tempe Symphony Orchestra, Tempe Winds Concert Band, and Valley Opera Company.

Dr. Paco has performed and presented at international conferences and festivals. He is also a self-published composer whose works have been performed across the U.S. and abroad, advocating for new music with a focus on amplifying underrepresented voices. His current research applies principles of linguistics to clarinet pedagogy, offering innovative approaches to various clarinet techniques.

With over a decade of experience in music education, Dr. Paco has taught collegiately as a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University and provided guest lectures and masterclasses at numerous institutions. He is the founder and director of Phoenix Youth Bands, a program providing music education to students without access to school band programs, and he leads a thriving private studio of over 30 students.

He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music from Arizona State University, where he studied with Dr. Robert Spring and Dr. Joshua Gardner, and a Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance from Columbus State University, where he studied clarinet with Dr. Lisa Oberlander and composition with Dr. James Ogburn, Dr. Matthew McCabe, and Dr. Fred Cohen.

Email: contact@fjdmusic.com