About Andrew
Andrew is a widely experienced trainer and conductor of choirs with a long standing commitment to music education.
Biography
Andrew graduated from Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with an MMus in Conducting (Distinction) and works extensively with youth and adult choirs across the UK.
In 2018 Andrew was appointed Artistic Director of the National Youth Choir of Northern Ireland, comprising of a Training Choir, Junior Choir, Senior Choir and Chamber Choirs. In 2019 he led the talented young singers, aged 11-24, in their 20th Anniversary season, including a successful tour to the south of France. In April 2019 he judged the final of the BBC Northern Ireland School Choir of the Year, which was broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Northern Ireland.
As Director of Choirs at the RCS Junior Conservatoire, Andrew has developed a choral programme of 6 choirs, involving over 300 students aged 7-18, with the Chamber Choir performing on BBC One Scotland on Christmas Eve (2017).
He has also prepared choirs for Britten’s Noye’s Fludde with BBC SSO and Martyn Brabbyns, recorded and broadcast on BBC Radio 3 (2012), and children’s choruses for RCS Opera productions of Britten’s Owen Wingrave, Weill’s Street Scene, the UK Staged Premiere of Dead Man Walking by Jake Heggie and A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Benjamin Britten in collaboration with Scottish Opera.
He also prepared the children’s chorus for Britten’s Spring Symphony under Garry Walker and RCS Symphony Orchestra (2017). Andrew has also worked extensively with the National Youth Choir Of Scotland (NYCOS), most notably conducting in Belgium for events broadcast on BBC 1 & 2 to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele (2017).
Equally experienced working with prestigious adult choirs Andrew is Artistic Director of Les Sirènes, the female voice choir who won the 2012 Choir of the Year competition. Since then they have performed frequently for BBC Radio, collaborating with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and recorded two commercial CDs. Highlights of Andrew’s work as Director of Music with Bearsden Choir since 2014 have included performances of Elgar’s The Music Makers and The Dream of Gerontius, the Requiems of Mozart, Verdi, Fauré and Duruflé, Vaughan Williams’ The Sons of Light and Dona Nobis Pacem and Mendelssohns’ Elijah. Their 50th Anniversary season also saw him conduct Handel’s Messiah and the great Mass in B Minor of JS Bach.
With a long standing commitment to music education, Andrew spearheaded the unique Choral Education Project (2016), involving 280 children from schools across Glasgow to perform in Haydn’s Nelson Mass with the Bearsden Choir, professional soloists and an orchestra from RCS. He is also an established Kodaly practitioner, delivering modules at RCS and on the annual NYCOS Kodaly Summer School, and teaches conducting to RCS Musical Theatre Direction students on the Masters programme.
Conductor
Since graduating with distinction and the school of music prize for excellence from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland conducting masters, Andrew has established himself as one of the most important choral conductors of his generation. His versatility as a conductor sees him work with a wide variety of groups from national youth choirs to adult symphonic choruses and professional orchestral players. Andrew has a strong reputation for quality and a proven track record of developing and raising standards in organisations he works with. He achieves high standards and passionate performances by motivating choirs through his engaging personality, inspiring leadership and a shared love of music making.
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Chorus Master
Equally at home in the role of chorus master, Andrew has prepared choirs for conductors such as Stéphane Denève, Garry Walker, Martyn Brabbins, James Feddeck, Markus Stenz, Christopher Bell, Timothy Dean, Robert Houssart and James Holmes. These have included both symphonic choral repertoire and opera choruses, including the children’s chorus for the UK staged premiere of Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking. Orchestra’s Andrew has prepared choruses for include the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
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Kodály
Kodály Philosophy is at the heart of Andrew’s training and is something he is passionate about because of its impact on music education. He is a tutor for NYCOS Creative Learning, delivering musicianship training at both the annual summer school and throughout the year for the Kodály at home accredited online modules. At the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Andrew is a Kodály musicianship lecturer, delivering modules to undergraduate and postgraduate school of music students and undergraduate musical theatre students. At the RCS Junior Conservatoire Andrew has developed a choral programme of six choirs involving over 300 students that is influenced by Kodály philosophy and effectively joins Kodály musicianship to the choral rehearsal.
Workshops/Training
Andrew loves delivering choral workshops and training for a wide range of groups and organisations. This includes much experience within educational settings, undertaking at least forty workshops with school choirs each year in his role as Artistic Director of the National Youth Choir of Northern Ireland. In this role he also delivers choral conducting and rehearsal training with school music teachers. He regularly delivers training for NYCOS Creative Learning in choral conducting, song leading/teaching, choral repertoire sessions and how to join Kodály musicianship to the choral rehearsal. He is also a conducting teacher at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, working with postgraduate diploma and masters students studying musical theatre direction. Andrew is passionate about education and enjoys tailoring a workshop or training session to your needs. Sessions are always inspiring and uplifting, delivered with his unique positive energy and enthusiasm.
TO ARRANGE A BESPOKE WORKSHOP OR TRAINING SESSION WITH ANDREW, PLEASE CONTACT HIM HERE
“Every year we look forward to our annual choral workshop from Andrew. He manages in a short space of time to engage all our singers and has them singing from the tip of his fingers in a fun and engaging way! The workshops are always well prepared, and uplifting. They inspire both pupils and teachers alike!”
Ciara Hogarty, Head of Music, St Louise’s School, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Adjudication
An experienced choral adjudicator, Andrew has developed a reputation for positive, detailed and constructive feedback. His style of adjudication has proven popular with choirs and organisations, with many repeat invitations such as the Aberdeen Music Festival and the Scottish Women’s Institute Choral Festival. Most notably, Andrew adjudicated the live final of BBC Northern Ireland School Choir of the Year competition in 2019, broadcast live on BBC Radio Ulster and BBC One Northern Ireland. Other invitations include the inaugural Maynooth Choral Festival and regular appearances at school and local music festivals.
Andrew welcomes adjudication invitations and can tailor this to your specific requirements.
CONTACT ANDREW to enquire about adjudication.
