Alex Deng is an arts advocate, cultural strategist, conductor, and civic leader working at the intersection of symphonic music, public affairs, live entertainment, and community development. As Co-Founder and Executive Director of the San Gabriel Valley Symphony, he leads a mission-driven effort to expand the role of the orchestra in civic and cultural life, building new audiences, championing underrepresented voices, and strengthening the San Gabriel Valley’s growing music ecosystem.

Under Alex’s leadership, the San Gabriel Valley Symphony has grown from a startup initiative into a significant cultural presence in the Los Angeles music landscape. The organization presented six major concert productions alongside more than 20 performances in neighborhood spaces, local businesses, and community hubs, reaching thousands of audience members across the region. Its programming has championed new music through nine world premieres, established a residency at the historic San Gabriel Mission Playhouse, and developed civic partnerships with the Cities of San Gabriel and Monterey Park, with support from the Monterey Park Healing Fund.

The Symphony has also helped bring major touring productions to audiences across Los Angeles, including the return of Video Games Live. Alex’s work increasingly extends into video game music and touring concert productions, connecting orchestral performance with the global entertainment industry and helping build new pathways between symphony orchestras, contemporary audiences, and large-scale live experiences.

Beyond the Symphony, Alex founded the Jazz on Main Street concert series in 2024, producing ten performances in its inaugural season. His broader experience spans arts administration, marketing, public affairs, audience development, and live production, with organizations including the American Youth Symphony, Boston Festival Orchestra, and Pacific Symphony.

As a conductor, Alex serves as assistant conductor of the Roudaki Orchestra, working closely with Maestro Shardad Rohani. He has conducted internationally with orchestras including the Sofia Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, and Vratsa Sinfonietta, and has led recording sessions with ensembles including the Budapest Scoring Orchestra and European Recording Orchestra.

Raised in a working-class immigrant family in Alhambra, California, Alex studied music and public policy at the University of Southern California. Across his work in orchestral music, civic engagement, and live entertainment, he is focused on building sustainable, artist-centered institutions, expanding the cultural infrastructure of the San Gabriel Valley, and connecting orchestral music with the communities and audiences shaping its future.

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