Andrew Griffiths

Andrew studied composition at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where he wrote new music for performance at festivals such as the Brahms and Schumann Fest, and a celebration of the works of Georgian composer Giya Kancheli. He was also commissioned to write a concert overture to celebrate the opening of the RNCM's new Oxford Road Wing, which was officially opened by the Duchess of Kent in the Summer of 2007.

In tandem with his musical studies, Andrew started a career in musical theatre in 2000, acting as rehearsal pianist and pit musician on productions such as Crazy For You, Chess and Jekyll and Hyde. Working as musical director he conducted Sweeney Todd and Carousel in his hometown of Sheffield, and the Irish national premieres of Spend Spend Spend and Grand Hotel at the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera, both productions winning awards.

On completion of his postgraduate degree in 2007 Andrew took up his first professional engagement as assistant musical director on the UK tour of South Pacific (UK Productions). He has also worked on the recent touring production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast (also UK Productions) as both keyboard player and assistant musical director, and made his professional conducting debut on the UK tour of Evita (Bill Kenwright). Andrew is currently playing keyboards on the UK tour of Scrooge, starring Tommy Steele.