Lorin Alexander, a native of Los Angeles, began composing at the age of eight, shortly after beginning piano lessons. As a teen, she studied composition with Roy Harris. She went on to receive her Bachelor and Master's Degrees in Piano Performance at the USC School of Music. After graduation, she continued composition studies with Walter Scharff at UCLA, and orchestration with Albert Harris.

A composer of orchestral, chamber music and solo works, she is the recipient of several commissions by new music groups. Her music has been praised for being "lyrical, rhythmically driven" and for "using the colors of the orchestra brilliantly." Woodwind Quintet, originally commissioned by the Great Notes ensemble in 2001, has been performed by several ensembles, most recently by the Calico Winds. Prologue for orchestra was commissioned by Ransom Wilson to open the New Music Concert at the Idyllwild Arts Academy in 2002. It was performed by the Redlands Symphony Orchestra to open their concert season in 2004-2005 and by the Santa Cruz Symphony as the opening of their 2006-2007 season.

Ms. Alexander lives in Idyllwild, a mountain community outside of Los Angeles, where she teaches and composes.