Biography
Andrew began composing at age 10 in order to enter a composition contest (Reflections) at his elementary school (he won - oh, and was the only entrant!). During his high school years, he continued to compose, in larger genres such as oratorio and musicals, as well as single songs and piano works. Some of his compositions were written for class assignments, some given to friends as gifts. Andrew attended James Madison University to study with John Hilliard and graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in composition.
After college, Andrew moved to New York City and began pursuing his life as a musician. In NYC, he worked at several arts schools while free-lancing as a conductor of musicals for various theatres and universities. As of now, he has music directed almost 100 productions across the country. Also, while in NYC, Andrew participated three times in the Golden Fleece Opera’s Square One Series and had his musical “Paper Dolls” presented in readings at two theaters.
In 2009, in order to focus on his composition, Andrew made the decision to return to school. He reunited with JMU, studying with John Hilliard and Jason Haney and graduated in 2011 with a Master’s degree in Music Composition. In May of 2016, Andrew received his doctorate in music composition (DMA) from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD where he studied with composer Kevin Puts. Andrew’s music focuses on clarity of ideas, playing with melody and tonality to form a cohesiveness between his love of early to mid-20th Century music (Bartok, Britten, Ravel, Poulenc), musical theatre (Sondheim, Weill, Bernstein, Guettel) and popular folk artists of today (Ani Difranco, Patty Larkin). In 2015, he was named composer-in-residence for the Tidewater Opera Initiative (TOI) in Norfolk, VA. His opera, The Snow Maiden of Appalachia was presented by TOI in January of 2016. Andrew currently resides in Brooklyn, NY.
After college, Andrew moved to New York City and began pursuing his life as a musician. In NYC, he worked at several arts schools while free-lancing as a conductor of musicals for various theatres and universities. As of now, he has music directed almost 100 productions across the country. Also, while in NYC, Andrew participated three times in the Golden Fleece Opera’s Square One Series and had his musical “Paper Dolls” presented in readings at two theaters.
In 2009, in order to focus on his composition, Andrew made the decision to return to school. He reunited with JMU, studying with John Hilliard and Jason Haney and graduated in 2011 with a Master’s degree in Music Composition. In May of 2016, Andrew received his doctorate in music composition (DMA) from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD where he studied with composer Kevin Puts. Andrew’s music focuses on clarity of ideas, playing with melody and tonality to form a cohesiveness between his love of early to mid-20th Century music (Bartok, Britten, Ravel, Poulenc), musical theatre (Sondheim, Weill, Bernstein, Guettel) and popular folk artists of today (Ani Difranco, Patty Larkin). In 2015, he was named composer-in-residence for the Tidewater Opera Initiative (TOI) in Norfolk, VA. His opera, The Snow Maiden of Appalachia was presented by TOI in January of 2016. Andrew currently resides in Brooklyn, NY.
