Talented Mayo Clinic CTSA student Allie Greenberg performing in Rochester, MN!

As you know we have many educated and inspiring students here at Mayo Clinic. One thing you may not be aware of is how TALENTED our students are.

Alexandra Greenberg (alias Allie) is one of these very talented students. Allie was born and raised in downtown Chicago and is a recent Grinnell College graduate. When asked how she became interested in music she explains how " [she] was fortunate enough to grow up in a family of music lovers". Her father  played the guitar for years, and her mother used to sing to her all the time when she was little. Two things were viewed as important in her household growing up: education and music. Subsequently, family outings usually involved going to concerts ranging from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to Steely Dan. Allie states how, "in that environment, it was hard not to want to join in and get involved in the production of music". Also, her paternal grandparents and great-aunt paid for piano lessons for Allie and her brother when we were younger, so she got an early start as an instrumentalists. Since then, she has taken guitar, drums/percussion, violin, and voice lessons. Allie started writing music a few years ago, and since then it has been a wonderful balance to her science education.

Allie is also a very busy performer! She first performed as a solo singer-songwriter at the Cubby Bear in Chicago, IL and in Grinnell, IA at Saint's Rest Coffeehouse. Since then, she has played at the Red Line Tap and US Beer Company (both in Chicago), Acadia Café (in Minneapolis), and has even opened for Jamie Stewart of Xiuxiu on an Iowa stop of his tour.

 Also known as "Allie Joelle" she has already released a CD entitled "Better Left Unsaid," released in August 2009 through CDBaby. It features four songs detailing the beginning and ending of a relationship. She states how, " [she] was lucky enough to be backed by a full band of incredible musicians on the album and to work with an incredible producer, Johnny Rutledge]". You can find her music on iTunes, CDBaby, Napster, Amazon, and many other online retailers.

Although Allie is now a busy first year graduate student in the CTSA program at Mayo Clinic she is still performing and keeping her music talents alive. She has a performance this Saturday, August 21, 2010 in Rochester Minnesota at Whistle Binkies North at 9pm.

All I can say is "You GO Allie!"

Jess (Blog Manager)

UPDATE::::August 23, 2010

Allie Joelle gave a great concert! Whistle Binkies was packed and many people asked for her CD.   "You ROCK!"    If anyone went to the concert please let us know what you thought.....

Jess (Blog Manager)