Spencer, Andrew

Biography

Andrew Spencer is Professor of Percussion at Central Michigan University. An active recitalist and clinician, he has performed as a soloist in the United States, Poland, Japan, Canada, and Costa Rica. In 1999, he released "Slender Beams," a recording that features work by composer Dave Hollinden. Spencer has also premiered works by David Gillingham, Mark Polishook, Samuel Adler, Robert May and Henry Gwiazda among others. Equally experienced in orchestral performance, Dr. Spencer is timpanist with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, and Principal Percussionist for the Midland Orchestra. Additional positions have included timpanist/principal percussionist with the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Yakima Symphony Orchestra, Cascade Festival Orchestra, Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and Fargo-Moorhead Civic Opera Company. He has performed with the Oregon Symphony, Spokane Symphony, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. In addition, he has performed with numerous chamber ensembles throughout the United States, and plays drum set with the CMU Faculty Jazz Ensemble with whom he has recorded two CDs, "Caught In The Act" and "Conspiracy Theory". 

Dr. Spencer received his bachelor of music and master of music in performance (percussion) and studied with Dr. Terry Applebaum at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He earned his doctor of musical arts in performance and literature (percussion) from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York where he studied with John Beck. In addition, Eastman granted Dr. Spencer the coveted performer's certificate as a percussion soloist.

"Spencer's energy put the piece in overdrive." - Seattle Post Intelligencer

Recent Scholarship

Concerto performance with the West Michigan Symphony Orchestra. Performances at new music festivals in Detroit and Bowling Green. Commissioning new works for percussion and interactive computer. Performances at Jazz in the Valley festival.