15-Year-Old Classical Guitarist Alexandria Alyse Cutting to Make Carnegie Hall Debut on November 14

The Illinois guitarist, who lives with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, will perform works by Bach and Brouwer at the prestigious New York venue.

NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, November 4, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Fifteen-year-old classical guitarist Alexandria Alyse Cutting, from Carbondale, Illinois, will make her Carnegie Hall debut on November 14, 2026, at 1:00 PM, performing at the NY Classical Debut Awards Gala Concert at Weill Recital Hall in New York City. The performance represents a significant milestone for the young musician, whose artistic development has continued alongside the challenges of living with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), a connective tissue disorder.

Alexandria will present a program featuring a classical guitar transcription of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Prelude from Cello Suite No. 1, BWV 1007, and Leo Brouwer’s Canción de Cuna, a Cuban lullaby. The two selections reflect her interest in the expressive possibilities of classical guitar and her dedication to developing a repertoire that combines technical precision with musical sensitivity.

For Alexandria, performing at Carnegie Hall represents the fulfillment of a childhood ambition and an important step toward future opportunities in music.
“Playing at Carnegie Hall has been a dream of mine ever since I was a little girl,” Alexandria said. “It feels surreal that I actually get to fulfill this wish.”
Her achievement is particularly meaningful because of the physical challenges associated with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Alexandria began studying classical guitar before her condition was identified and has continued pursuing musical development while managing its complications.

As her medical challenges progressed, she sometimes found herself questioning whether the performance opportunities she had dreamed of would remain possible. Her upcoming Carnegie Hall appearance has renewed her confidence in pursuing those ambitions.
“The more my medical issues progressed, the more I began to lose sight of that part of me who strived to perform at many beautiful places, like Carnegie Hall, and share my music with the world,” she explained.

Alexandria hopes her experience will encourage other young people living with rare or chronic medical conditions to continue pursuing their interests and aspirations. She sees her Carnegie Hall debut not only as an individual achievement but also as an opportunity to demonstrate how artistic determination can coexist with significant personal challenges.

The opportunity developed through Alexandria’s participation in the NY Classical Debut Awards, an international music competition that brings selected performers to Carnegie Hall. She first learned about the competition after following the experiences of a local pianist and violinist who had previously participated in the program. Their performances and the attention they received encouraged her to apply.
Her selection for the Winners’ Concert follows several years of study, competition participation, and musical development through masterclasses and festivals in the United States and internationally.

Alexandria has studied with Stephen Mattingly, a classical guitar educator at Florida State University; João Vitor, her guitar instructor associated with Indiana University in Bloomington; and Denis Bizhga, a guitar educator associated with the University of Tirana in Albania.
She has also participated in masterclasses with internationally recognized, award-winning guitarists, including Andrew York, Jason Vieaux, Irina Kulikova, Daniel Ortega, Meng Su, Jiji Kim, and An Tran, gaining exposure to different artistic approaches and performance traditions.
Her competition experience includes multiple placements at the University of Louisville, where she received first prize in the 14-and-under division in 2023, second prize in 2024 and 2025, and first prize in the 15-and-under division in 2026. That same year, she also earned third place in the 15–18 division.
Additional recognition includes second place in the 14-and-under category at the 2025 Appalachian State University competition, as well as placements in international competitions including the Marku International Remote Competition, Albania International Remote Competition, and International Fringe Competition in China.
Beyond her musical achievements, Alexandria is a sophomore and straight-A student at Carbondale Community High School, where she receives strong encouragement and support from the entire school community, including administrators, counselors, teachers, and fellow students.
Her musical activities have also brought her into contact with organizations and institutions including the Guitar Foundation of America, St. Louis Classical Guitar, the Shearer Summer Institute in North Carolina, and the Guitar Retreat in St. Andrews, Scotland.

Alexandria credits the collective influence of teachers, mentors, festivals, and masterclasses with helping her develop the skills and confidence necessary to pursue a major performance opportunity at a young age.
Among the individuals who have supported her musical development are Doreen D’Amico, a New York-based private voice teacher and mentor, along with her guitar instructors and the wider community of musicians she has encountered through her studies.

Coming from a small Midwestern community, Alexandria is particularly excited about performing in New York City, where she will share the stage with other young musicians representing different instruments and musical backgrounds.
She hopes the experience will lead to further opportunities to perform, continue her education, and eventually share her knowledge with others through teaching and musical collaboration.
Beyond the immediate excitement of her debut, Alexandria sees the November performance as an important moment in a much longer personal and artistic journey.

“I will be forever grateful for this opportunity because it really gives me hope that I and many others with rare diseases will not be defined their medical conditions,” she said.

The NY Classical Debut Awards Gala Concert will take place on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 1:00 PM, at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

About Alexandria Alyse Cutting:

Alexandria Alyse Cutting is a 15-year-old classical guitarist from Carbondale, Illinois. She has participated in national and international guitar competitions, festivals, and masterclasses, receiving recognition in several youth competition categories. Her studies have included work with guitar educators and internationally recognized performers. Living with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Alexandria continues to pursue her musical development while demonstrating through her experience the importance of perseverance and opportunities for young people facing medical challenges. She will make her Carnegie Hall debut on November 14, 2026, at the NY Classical Debut Awards Gala Concert.

Pietro Molteni
Elite Music Careers | New York, NY
office@elitemusiccareers.com

Alexandria Alyse Cutting plays J.K. Mertz “Tarantella”, and J.S. Bach “BWV 1007 Prelude”

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