Andy McBeath

Piano, Percussion

Chicago-based organist, percussionist, and pianist Andy McBeath is a versatile and accomplished musician. He currently is the Director of Music at St Mark Lutheran Church in Lindenhurst, Illinois where he plays the organ for weekly services and directs the Bell Choir and Senior Choir.

Andy holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign studying with William Moersch and Ricardo Flores. He holds a Master of Music Degree from New York University Steinhardt, where he studied under James Saporito, Simon Boyar, and Jonathan Haas.

Currently, Andy is the principal percussionist with the Kenosha Symphony Orchestra and plays with Symphony 847 and Lake Forest Civic Orchestra. Outside of the classical music world Andy is a keyboard player for the baseball themed steel band Caught Steelin', drummer for his jazz trio, and sub for various musicals in the area. Previously, Andy worked as a full time percussion instructor and orchestra/band assistant at Lake Forest High School. His musical accomplishments include performances at prestigious venues such as Merkin Concert Hall, the Bali Arts Festival in Bali, Indonesia, the Chicago Jazz Showcase, and the Chicago Symphony Center, among others. He was the recipient of the Tom Siwe Percussive Arts Society Scholarship in 2010 and worked as a drummer and percussionist for the Holland America Cruise Line during the summer of 2011.

In addition to his classical studies, Andy has immersed himself in various musical traditions, studying West-African drumming with Moussa Bolokada Conde, Balinese Gamelan with I Ketut Gede Asnawa, Afro-Cuban drumming with Marvin Diz, steel pan with Josh Quillen, and organ with Don Horisberger. His diverse background and experiences enable him to bring a unique perspective to both his playing and teaching.