Andrew currently enjoys a diverse career as a jazz and classical performing artist and teacher. He holds Bachelor of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies and Master of Music Education degrees from the University of Michigan and the Doctor of Musical Arts in saxophone from the University of North Texas.  Andrew has studied saxophone with Larry Teal, Donald Sinta, Eugene Rousseau, Jim Riggs, and Tim Ries.  A native of the Detroit, Michigan metropolitan area, Andrew was able to develop his musicianship together with such great musicians as jazz bassists Rodney Whitaker and Paul Keller. While attending Interlochen National Music Camp, Andrew won a full-scholarship to the University of Michigan. During his undergraduate years at the University of Michigan, Andrew worked professionally with pianist Craig Taborn and drummer Gerald Cleaver.  After graduating, Andrew worked in New York City as a jazz musician and composer, performing at such venues as the Knitting Factory, the Kitchen, Downtime, and the Cornelia Street Cafe.  His early career in New York also includes working and recording with bassist Reid Anderson, drummer Clarence Penn, pianist Ethan Iverson, baritone saxophonist Alex Harding, and bassist Marc Sloan.

Strongly committed to music education, Andrew taught three years of K-12 vocal and instrumental music full-time and served as a faculty member for the University of Michigan Youth Programs in Ann Arbor and at Interlochen Music Camp in which he developed intensive jazz improvisation programs for premier high school students. Prior to UNC, Andrew was on the faculty of Texas Christian University.

As a researcher, Andrew has been interested in saxophone and jazz pedagogy in general.  His current research focuses on the acquisition and use of musical language for improvisation and the music of J.S. Bach. Andrew’s “jazz notebook” pedagogy was published by the Jazz Education Journal and he was interviewed in 2007 by the Saxophone Journal.

Andrew has been active as a performer, lecturer, and clinician at various events including the Colorado Music Educator’s Conference, the International Association of Jazz Educator’s Conference and North American Saxophone Alliance regional, national, and international conferences. Andrew has been an invited performer and clinician at numerous universities including, Indiana University, Arizona State University, the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Penn State, and SUNY Crane, as well as Hanyang University and the Korean National University of the Arts in Seoul.  Since his residence at UNC, Andrew has performed in concert with Mike Holober, Alan Pasqua, Peter Eldridge, Scott Wendholt, and Dick Oatts.  Outside the U. S., Andrew has been invited as a guest soloist by wind orchestras in Korea.  Following his debut with the Seoul Wind Ensemble in 2003 performing Ingolf Dahl’s concerto, Andrew was a featured wind soloist and clinician for the Jeju International Winds Festival in Korea in August 2005. He performed William Bolcom’s Concert Suite for Alto Saxophone and Winds with conductor Virginia Allen of the Julliard and Curtis schools. As a member of the Capitol Quartet Andrew has been a featured guest with numerous orchestras and artists including the Indianapolis Symphony, the Naples Philharmonic, vocalists Ann Hampton Callaway and Judy Mclane, and clarinetist Jon Manasse. The Capitol quartet also presents recitals and educational concerts across the U.S. In Colorado, Andrew has performed with the Aspen Music Festival Orchestra and performs frequently with the Colorado Symphony.

Andrew was recently elected treasurer of the North American Saxophone Alliance.

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