ANDREW BRADY

Professional Bassoonist & Bassoon Instructor

Andrew Brady is currently Principal Bassoon for the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Prior to that, he was with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, which he joined in January 2016 after previously being with the Louisiana Philharmonic in New Orleans.

He first started playing the bassoon when he was 13 years old. He had played saxophone a couple years before that because he’d hear his sister practicing a lot and there happened to be an extra saxophone in the house. He switched to the bassoon because he wanted a big challenge and to play in an orchestra. He had no idea what it sounded like, but was sitting behind one at a band clinic and thought it looked really cool - and so he decided to get started on fingerings he printed from the internet, memorizing those fingerings even before he ever had a bassoon! Fast forward to today, Andrew Brady is considered one of top bassoonists in the US, having performed with multiple orchestras and featured on NPR. 

As a soloist, Brady has performed concertos by Rossini, Mozart, Weber, and Zwilich with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Southeast Symphony, the Los Angeles Doctor’s Symphony, and The Colburn Orchestra. He has appeared as principal bassoonist with the Grand Teton Music Festival and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, and been on tours with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. 

Andrew's artistry has taken him to South Africa, London, Korea, Mexico as well as many destinations within the United States for both performances and education opportunities.

He has been a member of the Chineke! Orchestra including a performance at the 2017 BBC Proms. This ensemble is Europe’s first Black and Minority Ethnic orchestra, and was established to promote diversity and change within classical music by increasing representation and visibility for musicians of color.

Enthusiastically involved in music education, he has served as an Artist-in-Residence at Kennesaw State University. He is also sought after for masterclasses and private tutelage, and has served on the faculties of the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute, and National Youth Orchestra/NYO2 through Carnegie Hall. 

Andrew received his Bachelor of Music degree from The Colburn School Conservatory of Music where he studied with Richard Beene. Other key teachers and influences in his life include Anthony Parnther, Rick Ranti, and Suzanne Nelsen.