Conversations with Andrew David Perkins

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew David Perkins.

Hi Andrew, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today. 
I was born into a musical family; my parents met at Wayne State Univ. singing in the chorus together, and my mom taught elementary music her entire career. I was fortunate to have many outstanding musical experiences in my youth, from local theater, band, and orchestra to honors groups and the all-state program at Interlochen Arts Camp. I knew I wanted to make a career in music since age 15, and have been so lucky to receive so much encouragement from incredible mentors along the way. 

After attending Michigan State University and receiving a degree in music education, I took the job at Fenton HS and have worked in Fenton Schools for several decades. In 2011, the Fenton Community Orchestra asked me to serve as music director and conductor, which has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve also been composing and publishing my own works since 2013 and have enjoyed the opportunities that have come with a successful career in composition. There is nothing that compares to the experience of hearing one’s own ideas come to life and sharing it with incredible human beings. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Life always has challenges, but I’ve been fortunate to have incredible people in my life to help me weather the storms. My family is incredibly supportive, always championing my efforts and encouraging me to lean hard into my purpose. I could not possibly do all the things I do without the unwavering support of my wife Natalie; she keeps our world running and is a huge reason that I’ve been able to say yes to the opportunities I’ve been presented with. Teaching is a demanding, exhausting profession, but can also be deeply rewarding. Leading an orchestra of seasoned players through difficult literature and being responsible for their success is quite a responsibility. Composing music is an act of self-expression that requires incredible vulnerability and audacity; it is a risk to ask people to bring your internal thoughts and feeling to life and give up control of that to someone else. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In short, I’m a professional musician. I specialize in instrumental music education, made manifest through public school band, community orchestra, and composition. Each of these areas overlap somewhat, but my main area of focus is large ensembles: wind band, orchestra, chamber groups. Locally, I’m probably most well known as the former Director of Bands at Fenton HS from 2002-2019 and Andrew G. Schmidt MS from 2018-2023. I am deeply proud of this career as a public servant and honored to have been given a chance to share music with so many amazing young people. On slightly broader level, the Fenton Community Orchestra has allowed me to connect with musicians from many generations across southeast Michigan. Musicians join us from all over the region, some driving several hours to play with us. I’m very proud of the quality of music that we produce; although very few of our players are professionally trained, we work incredibly hard to make music of the highest quality. 

Nationally, I’m primarily known as a composer of wind band music. I’ve been fortunate to have received many commissions, performances, and awards in the field, most recently the American Bandmasters Association Sousa/Ostwald award for my work “TUEBOR SUITE,” a collection of Michigan folk songs set for wind band. 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
FCO has upcoming concerts on December 8 & 9, 7 pm at FHS Auditorium. 

Contact Info:

• Website: andrewdavidperkins.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/andrewdavidperkins
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/andrewdavidperkins
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ADPerkins1978
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCavxm3S2Mg5OkCs6XtdN6iw

Image Credits
HotShots photography