Residency Work
Percussionist, conductor, and contemporary music specialist Andy Bliss offers comprehensive educational residencies for composers and performers who seek to expand their knowledge of, and contributions to, the solo & chamber music repertoire.
Residency Offerings
Coachings
I am equally at home coaching percussion ensemble, steelband, various non-Western percussion genres, or mixed chamber ensembles. Wherever your ensemble is at, I’d love to help take things to the next level while celebrating some victories in the process.
Collaborations
Faculty or student collaborations are a very rewarding way to make the best use of our time together. Let’s chat about what projects might be in the works or discuss ideas or developing something unique to this visit.
Performances
Let’s curate a concert that gets your students involved. Past residencies have included guest conducting, soloist with ensemble, or project directing where we all work through the process together. I’m also perfectly happy to give a solo recital and we can schedule a follow-up chat to share thoughts and ideas.
Lectures
Research and context have also been a passion of mine, and I have lots of ideas I would love to share. This could be studio-specific ideas about the history of percussion literature or to school-wide lectures on non-profit work, career building, and collaboration.
Masterclasses
I love masterclasses because they allow us to get right to the heart of things. We can work together to survey and assess everything from a students’ musicianship, to creative workflows, to career building with the project they have their hands on at the moment.
Cross-Disciplinary Work
I always love visiting other studios to see where our work intersects. I’m happy to chat with composers about writing for percussion or with arts administration students about my work directing Nief-Norf.
What People Are Saying
" Andy Bliss presented an outstanding master class for our students at George Mason University! Not only were his comments technically helpful to the students, but he pushed them to expand their own artistic ideas and explore new ways to hear their music. He was an excellent clinician, and I look forward to his return."
— John Kilkenny /// Director of Percussion - George Mason University
"Andy Bliss presented a great and informative performance while at UNCP! His level of musicality and execution was tremendous and he also presented great information about the pieces during the program. My students also had a great time working with him in lessons and learning more about the history of percussion repertoire during our studio class time. He is a performer of the highest order!"
— Dr. Tracy Wiggins /// Director of Percussion - UNC Pembroke
"Andy's visit to the University of Nebraska was inspirational to our percussion studio. Andy worked expertly with our Percussion Ensemble and our students in clinic and masterclass settings. He was exceedingly generous with his time and knowledge and even presented to music majors in our Percussion Methods course. For me personally, it was an artistically and pedagogically refreshing visit. Thanks Andy!"
— Dr. Dave Hall /// Director of Percussion - University of Nebraska
“Andy has a unique ability to share very complex music with students in a way that is both accessible and educational.”
— Dr. Jason Baker /// Director of Percussion - Mississippi State University
“Andy’s recital was absolutely splendid, and his two lectures for our Percussion Literature and Studio Classes were expertly done. Andy spent a great deal of time with individual students, and talked shop with the students in between. His passion for this music is obvious and contagious....a top-drawer artist and scholar.”
— Dr. B. Michael Williams /// Director of Percussion - Winthrop University
"Andy Bliss' residency at Tennessee Tech University changed the way my students think and made me re-evaluate my approach as an educator. His expertise as a pedagogue, scholar, and performer are of the highest quality and I would welcome him back anytime! If you ever have the chance to work with Andy Bliss or bring him into your program, I couldn't recommend it more."