Alexander Bonus, Founding Director of The Forces of Virtue is one of the few early music conductors today who maintains an active career as a performer. He specializes in both the Cornetto and Baroque Trumpet, and is regularly engaged by organizations such as the Boston Early Music Festival, the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Apollo's Fire, the Newberry Consort, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra, and Chicago Opera Theater. In addition, Alexander Bonus appears in recitals throughout the country, most recently in Boston with the world-renowned ensemble Tragicomedia.
Born in 1975, Mr. Bonus founded The Forces of Virtue in 2003 to perform some of the greatest unknown music of the Renaissance and Baroque eras. Through the ensemble's programs, he strives to relate these historic creations to our contemporary life and society. Alex has lectured at the Eastman School of Music, Northwestern University, DePaul University, Roosevelt University, the Newberry Library, and Chicago Opera Theater. He holds MM and BM degrees from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied performance, conducting, and early music.