Andy Sledge
Hailed by WQXR as a “remarkable bassoonist,” Andy Sledge (they/them) has performed in concert halls, teahouses, opera pits, parking lots, and video game soundtracks. A winner of the 2022 Astral National Competition, Andy explores themes such as identity and reverence in concert programs of old and new music - from Johann Sebastian Bach to Lin-Manuel Miranda. Their work situates personhood at the heart of the artistic experience.
Striving to expand the sonic possibilities of their instrument, Andy has collaborated with composers such as Nicky Sohn, Alexis C. Lamb, and Samantha Wolf in the creation of works for electric and acoustic bassoon. In 2022, Andy co-founded the Bridge Bassoon Duo with bassoonist Dana Brink. Dedicated to promoting trans voices, the duo has commissioned music from composers including Meadow Bridgham and Maddy Wildman. Recently, the duo has appeared at Third Place [MusicFest] and the Conference of the International Double Reed Society. As an orchestral musician, Andy has performed with ensembles including Symphony in C and the West Virginia, New Haven, and Wheeling Symphony Orchestras. Their playing appears on the soundtrack to the Warmind expansion for Destiny 2.
As an educator, Andy believes in the study and performance of music as one part of a fulfilling life. Andy currently serves as Assistant Professor at West Virginia University, where they teach bassoon, chamber music, and music theory. They have presented masterclasses at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Shenandoah Conservatory. Beyond the university, they have shared educational and community engagement programs in public schools, arts centers, and retirement communities in Philadelphia and New Haven.
Andy is a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate at the Yale School of Music, where they also earned their master’s degree. They received their Bachelor in Music from Vanderbilt University, where they graduated with first honors as Founder’s Medalist from the Blair School of Music. Additionally, they studied chamber music with members of the Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet in Aix-en-Provence, France. Andy’s primary teachers include Frank Morelli, Peter Kolkay, Laura Hauser, and their middle school band director, Paul Scott Black.