For 15 years Andrea grew up performing musical theater starring in such roles as Cinderella and Annie, performing in the pit band and directing multiple musical acts in Hartford, CT. Andrea began singing, playing the piano and flute at the age of four years old with the help of her life long teacher and mentor, Doug Maher. Her exposure to the classic standards and performing gave Andrea the opportunity to develop a deep love for jazz music. Throughout middle school and high school, Andrea performed in many award winning jazz ensembles, concert bands and combos, receiving prestigious outstanding awards multiple times at the Berklee Jazz Festival, UCONN Jazz Festival, WCSU Jazz Festival, and many throughout the US.
In 2001, Andrea was the single jazz vocalist in the United States chosen to be accepted and receive a full scholarship to attend the Dave Brubeck Institute in California where she worked closely alongside renowned bassist Christian McBride, the Brubeck family and Jeff "Tain" Watts. Here, she studied with these jazz greats in small ensemble situations and performed a sold out concert at the University of The Pacific in Stockton, California. In 2002 and 2003, Andrea attended Greater Hartford Academy for the Arts where she was a part of the award winning jazz choir directed by Diane Mower and won awards at the Berklee Jazz Festival and the Monterey Jazz Festival. In this same year, Andrea received a full scholarship to the Litchfield Jazz Camp and Festival where she sang in many performances.
The beginning of Andrea's college career was at Western Connecticut State University School of Music where she studied both jazz and classical music. During these years, Andrea studied with saxophone great Andrew Beales, renowned composer Jamie Begian and privately with jazz vocalist Kate McGarry. Andrea also performed with many large and small ensembles where she was chosen to perform with Christian McBride and open for jazz great Chick Corea at the sold out WCSU Jazz Festival where some say she stole the show. The arrival of 2007 saw Andrea transferring to The New School in New York City to expand her performing career and study with Richard Harper, Charles Tolliver, and Lee Ann Ledgerwood. Over these eventful years, Andrea has developed a beautiful jazz tone that has the ability to grab anyone's ear.
2008 treated Andrea very well. She finished up a project with the great saxophonist Don Bradon, and also performed at the Hartford Jazz Festival in Hartford, Connecticut. Currently Andrea is working on a new album, which will feature Luques and Zaccai again. It will be available in December 2009. Andrea will also be releasing a CD of holiday songs, and is happy to be managing for her 5th year with Big Smile Productions.
