about Debra Alexander
Debra Alexander is the creative director of Word Maven Music, and promotes appreciation and awareness for the art of songwriting in Toronto. As a songwriter, publisher, teacher, coach, and collaborator, she works with wordsmiths and musicians to craft memorable songs through her Song Maven Studio. As a singer-songwriter, Debra has been featured in prestigious songwriting events and venues, including NXNE, Tin Pan North, Winterfolk, Club Passim, The Bluebird, The Cactus Café, and the Free Times Café.
A veteran of the Nashville, New York, Austin, and Toronto music scenes, Debra Alexander registered Word Maven Music with ASCAP in 1996, and SOCAN in 2011. Debra’s songs have won numerous awards, including: The International Songwriting Competition, The John Lennon Songwriting Contest, The Unisong International Songwriting Contest, The Billboard World Songwriting Contest, and The Nashville Songwriters Association International Single Song Showdown. Her songs have enjoyed national radio airplay, appeared on seven CDs, and have been performed by artists such as Suzie Vinnick and David Leask.
She received a B.A. in Music from Wittenberg University, and completed additional studies in Songwriting, Style Writing, and Recording and Producing at Berklee College of Music.
Debra Alexander has fostered the progress of songwriters and musicians for over twenty years. In addition to private lessons in piano, guitar, theory and songwriting, she has served as a a regional coordinator for the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), a mentor for Toronto's School Alliance of Student Songwriters (SASS), and a workshop facilitator for the Songwriters Association of Canada (SAC). Debra has conducted workshops at Metalworks Institute, The Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame, and The University of Toronto. She is a former faculty member of Metalworks Institute and Trebas Institute, in both Music Theory and Songwriting.
AWARDS
debra alexander, SINGER-SONGWRITER, SOLO AND IN COLLABORATION
Austin Songwriters Group Barebones Contests
1996 Grand Prize
1996 First Place Barebones Contest I
1996 First Place Contest II
1997 First Place Contest III
Billboard World Songwriting Contest
2005 Honorable Mention
Canadian Songwriting Competition
2018 Finalist
International Songwriting Competition
2013 Finalist Gospel/Christian
2006 Semi-Finalist
John Lennon Songwriting Contests
2010 Runner-Up, John Lennon 70th Anniversary Birthday Contest
2010 Finalist
2006 Honorable Mention, John Lennon Songwriting Contest 2006
Nashville Songwriters Association International
2004 First Place, Single Song Showdown
Unisong International Songwriting Contest
2005 Honorable Mention
2003 Second Place
USA Songwriting Competition
2012 & 2006 Finalist
What People Say About Debra Alexander
“The sensational opening track ‘Something So Sweet’ has you scrambling to confirm your suspicions that it’s a modernized version of an undiscovered gem from the great American songbook. But rather than Cole Porter’s name in the credits, you’ll find it’s a Suzie Vinnick-Debra Alexander original.”
“I feel blessed to be able to explore with an open and encouraging teacher.”
“I’m telling you, I’ve learned more from you in an hour than I have from my guitar teacher in three weeks.”
“Thank you so much for all you do…I hope we get to work together again in the near future.”
“Debra has won practically every songwriting award out there…I can truly say, as one who has been coached by Debra that, in her field, she ranks up there with Elaine [Overholt]! And that is one BIG compliment.”
“You break it down for me in a way that’s perfect for my style of learning.”
“Well thanks so much!! Your encouragement is invaluable and pushes me forward. I’ve spent most of the week exploring and creating.”
“I couldn’t believe how empowered Debra made me feel...Within an hour she was unblocking things that had been blocked since my childhood.”
“I just wanted to thank you for getting Debra for our workshop yesterday. She was awesome...fantastic one on one work with the students, and she had a complete understanding of the breakdown of what it takes to craft a song. The workshop was a complete success.”