Alexandria Hoffman is a flutist, mental health therapist, and advocate whose work bridges the worlds of artistry and healing.
Currently serving as a full-time therapist, Alex works with clients navigating identity exploration, perfectionism, and burnout. She is especially passionate about supporting high-achieving professionals and fellow musicians, integrating Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, and a person-centered perspective. Her work is deeply informed by her experiences as a multiracial, queer woman and professional musician, allowing her to hold space with warmth, curiosity, and cultural humility.
Praised for her “warmth and vitality,” she has performed with the Chicago Symphony, The Cleveland Orchestra, and as a soloist alongside Yo-Yo Ma. Alex was previously acting Associate Principal Flute in the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and has held fellowship positions at the New World Symphony (2021-24) and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago (2018-21). She has performed under the batons of Klaus Mäkelä, Riccardo Muti, and Michael Tilson Thomas.
As co-founder and Executive Director of Sound Mind, Alex has facilitated workshops nationwide that support musicians and creatives in building resilience and cultivating wellness in the classical music world. Sound Mind has presented workshops for organizations such as the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the National Orchestral Institute, and more. She has spoken widely about her own mental health journey to reduce stigma and previously served as Education Coordinator at NAMI Metro Suburban. Additionally, she has raised over $2000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention through her advocacy as part of the Chicago Marathon.
As a soloist, Alex has appeared with Yo-Yo Ma as part of his Bach Project in Chicago, where she performed on a flute made out of a rifle created by Pedro Reyes and also performed Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 4. Alex has additionally appeared as a soloist at Peninsula Music Festival on both flute and piccolo. In its Chicago premiere, Alex appeared alongside Claire Chase and the International Contemporary Ensemble to perform Salvatore Sciarrino’s Cutting the Circle of Sounds.
An accomplished piccolo player, Alex previously won first prize in the National Flute Association’s Piccolo Audition and Masterclass Competition. She has performed in piccolo masterclasses for Jennifer Gunn, Cynthia Meyers, and Alyce Johnson, and flute masterclasses for Mathieu Dufour and Robert Langevin, among others. In previous summers, Alex has attended the Peninsula Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute, and Centre d’Arts Orford. Other performance highlights include concerts with noted jazz musicians Aaron Diehl, Victor Goines, and Branford Marsalis.
Alex holds a Master’s of Education Degree from Loyola University, where she studied Community Counseling. She additionally holds a Master’s Degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music and a Bachelor’s Degree in Flute Performance and Music Education from Northwestern University, where she was a Presser Scholar and graduated magna cum laude. Her primary teachers include Mary Kay Fink, John Thorne, and Lauren Moldenhauer. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, video games, and playing with her dog, Barry.
Alex’s mission is to help people feel truly seen, empowered, and free to reconnect with joy and authenticity. In her free time, she enjoys video games, exploring the world with her partner Sam, and playing with her dog, Barry.