Andrew has been composing since he was in high school and his output includes Orchestral, Choral & many Chamber Music works.

Choral Music is Andrew’s main interest in composition and he has been lucky enough to be the Cathedral Companions Composer-In-Residence with the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul from August of 2006 through to July of 2007, and has already composed a number of works for the Cathedral Choir, including an Anthem set to the famous text “For the Fallen” which was performed by the Choir at the ANZAC Day Service of 2006 which was broadcast live on TV1, and a setting of “O Magnum Mysterium” (revised from 2004) which was performed at the Nine Lessons and Carols Service at the Cathedral. The choir have also programmed more of his works for later in the year, including an 8-part Unaccompanied Mass & an anthem for Good Friday, as well as a setting of Responses for the Cathedral Choristers.

Andrew was also commissioned by TOWER New Zealand Youth Choir in early 2006 to write a choral piece for the choir. “Cantate Domino” will be performed later this year. He was also recipient of the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir Choral Composition Award for 2004 & 2005, and was Highly Commended in 2003. His piece written in 2004, “Pie Jesu”, was performed by the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir in Auckland in October 2005.

As well as choral works, Andrew has had considerable experience in Orchestral & Chamber Music writing. Four of Andrew’s orchestral pieces have been involved in workshops held by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra & the Auckland Philharmonia, and in 2004 was awarded the Trusts Young Composers Award of the APO for his orchestral piece “Dreaming” (and was also Highly Commended in 2003). This piece was performed in early 2005 at the Last Night of the Proms of the Southern Sinfonia in the Dunedin Town Hall, and the Discovery Series Concerts in May 2005 of the Auckland Philharmonia at the Aotea Centre. In 2006 Andrew was commissioned by Bayfield High School in Dunedin to write a short orchestral piece for the Orchestra to perform on tour in Sydney, Australia. “A Simple Waltz” was performed several times whilst the orchestra was on tour including a performance in the famous Sydney Opera House.

Andrew has also been given “Highly Commended” Awards in the Chamber Music New Zealand Schools Contest Composition Section in 2002, 2003 & 2004, and was the recipient of the Music-Scores.com award in 2002 & 2003 for his “Piano Impromptu No.1” (2002), and “Berceuse” (2003). His Piano Preludes were also workshopped by pianist Emma Sayers in mid 2006, and are due to be performed later this year in Germany by pianist Julia Horsnell. Andrew has also had works performed by students of the New Zealand School of Music, and was a finalist in the NZSM Composers Competition in 2005 for his solo flute piece “From the Treetops”. Another piano piece of his, “Humoresque”, has also received several performances in Dunedin.

In mid 2005 Andrew was commissioned by performance students of the New Zealand School of Music (Dragon Opera Company) to write music for a children’s opera based on the poem “Custard the Dragon”. The opera was toured around Wellington Primary Schools and involved both Vocal & Instrumental performance students.

Andrew’s current projects include a choral piece for the New Zealand Secondary Students Choir based on a poem by Kevin Ireland, music for a short film for a student at the NZ Film School, and several more pieces for the Wellington Cathedral Choir. As well as composing, Andrew teaches Piano & sings in the Wellington Cathedral Choir. He hopes to travel overseas after completing his Bachelor of Music in Composition from the NZSM.