Aleixo Piedade Fernandes (10 January 1910 – 30 August 1999), professionally known as Alex Mestri, was an Indian musician, composer, violinist, bandleader, and music director who worked on the Konkani stage.

The band flourished during its early days, gaining recognition for its performances at weddings, dances, and eventually becoming an integral part of the tiatr scene for two decades.

The subsequent iteration of the band saw the inclusion of Raia-based Gaspar, John Carvalho, Paixão hailing from Nuvem, Jack Minguel based in Fatorda and Piedade Santan from Colva.

Fernandes, who had prior employment at a school in Nuvem and used to commute by bicycle, chose to resign from his teaching position to focus on his musical performances at weddings, dances, and tiatrs.

The Konkani actor and playwright, A. R. Souza Ferrão, played a pivotal role in guiding Fernandes into the realm of commercial tiatrs as a musician.

This journey encompassed 25 shows across diverse locations including Portuguese Angola, Dar es Salaam in the Tanganyika Territory, Kampala in the Protectorate of Uganda, Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru in Kenya Colony, and various others.

Fernandes' musical contributions were not limited to his native Goa; he also lent his talents to tiatrs in Bombay, Poona, Karwar, Mangalore, and Belgaum, thereby expanding his artistic reach.

In a different anecdote, prior to embarking on his musical career, Fernandes held the position of choirmaster at the Nuvem church for a decade, as confirmed by Jose Alexandre Rodrigues, the member secretary of the Tiatr Academy of Goa.

Driven by his passion for music, he eventually decided to leave his teaching position to pursue a professional career as a musician, specializing in performing at weddings, dances, and tiatrs.