Andrew Ardizzoia (b. 1979) is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, where he began his studies in music at an early age. His catalog of orchestral, band, choral, chamber, and solo vocal works have been performed on four continents by a wide variety of soloists and ensembles. He has received numerous awards and commissions including the Presser Foundation Award, a Zoni nomination (Arizona’s top theatre award), as well as grants from Arizona State University, the University of Hartford, and the Alvin Edgar Fund at Iowa State University. In 2012 he received the Diemente award from the Hartt School, University of Hartford, where he is currently a doctoral candidate in composition.
Andrew’s works have been performed at Arizona State University, The Ohio State University, Iowa State University, the University of Oregon, Otterbein University, Idyllwild Arts Academy, the Interlochen Horn Institute and at many other colleges, festivals, and museums. Recitals dedicated to his works have taken place in California and Arizona, and his music has been part of art installations, dance programs, and theatrical productions throughout the Western U.S.
Other recent performances have included the premieres of Midsummer Pavanes, a new work commissioned by a consortium of American and Canadian ensembles, and Glass House Concerto with solo percussionist Matthew Coley. Additional performances have included *Some Assembly Required. with the Victoria Civic Orchestra, and Postcards from Laramie with the St. John’s Chamber Orchestra of Stockton, California, as well as Roadtrip Sunrise with dozens of concert bands across North America. Recent solo and chamber performances have included Andrew’s Lingua Franca for solo clarinet, the Sonatina for Violin and Piano, Distances Between Us for saxophone, trumpet and piano, New Resources for percussion ensemble, and the vocal cycles Songs of Introspection, and Three Whitman Lullabyes. Andrew’s works have been heard at major international conferences, including the World Saxophone Congress (Bangkok, Thailand), the North American Saxophone Alliance (Athens, Georgia), the International Horn Society (Brisbane, Australia) and the International Summer Arts Institute (Perugia, Italy).
Upcoming projects include a new work for the percussion ensemble at Fort Lewis College, a new work for oboe and string trio for oboist Josh Hall, and a work for Italian clarinetist Arianna Tieghi.
Andrew holds the M.Mus. in composition from Arizona State University and the B.Mus. in composition from the Conservatory of Music at the University of the Pacific. His primary teachers have included Stephen Michael Gryc, Robert Carl, James DeMars, Rodney Rogers, Robert Coburn, and Francois Rose. He has participated in masterclasses with composers Christopher Theofanidis, Jennifer Higdon, Michael Torke, and Jonathan Newman, as well as with conductor Karla Lemon at the Scotia Festival of Music in Halifax. He has also studied conducting with Henrik Jul Hansen and Eric Hammer, and has led clinics and performances of his music with ensembles of all ages.
Andrew has taught at Arizona State University and Paradise Valley Community College in Phoenix. He has also taught both theory and composition during his time at the Hartt School. He is a member of BMI and the College Music Society.
Andrew lives in Hartford with his partner Rico Reyes, and a rescued mutt named Joey, who is a very good boy.