ABOUT THE ARTIST Benjamin I. Andrews, percussion
Benjamin I. Andrews is a drummer, percussionist, and educator based in Wilmington, Delaware. He started playing drums at age 10, and has since played in chamber groups and bands around the world. He's shared the stage with artists such as Chubby Checker, Matt Maher, Rebecca St. James, Rachael Lampa, David Dunn, Andrew Ripp, Michael Burritt, Chris Deviney, and others. He's won several concerto competitions, including the National Collegiate Solo Competition hosted by the United States Army Band. Ben has also served as principal percussionist and principal timpanist with the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra; was a member of the percussion section of The Jackson Symphony in Jackson, Tennessee; and regularly subs locally with the Brandywine Valley Symphony (formerly Kennett Symphony). Ben’s love for the unusual has led to some unique one-of-a-kind experiences, including filming an Amazon Alexa commercial with mega-influencer Zach King (and a marimba). In addition, he’s played cajon in Costa Rica, bongos in Brazil, a cantata in Kentucky, and A Night in Tunisia—at night, in Tunisia. One of his all-time favorite musical moments was when a soon-to-be-mother told him that she felt her baby kick for the very first time during his drum solo. He spent over seven years freelancing in Nashville, Tennessee where he recorded over 100 percussion tracks on the legendary and iconic Music Row. For three years he also served as the Manager of Music for QuaverEd, an innovative online music curriculum that is currently used in over 28,000 schools worldwide. An active percussionist in the Nashville theatre scene, he was known for his “unyielding charm and consummate professionalism” (www.broadwayworld.com). In addition to his outstanding education at West Chester University, Ben has had the opportunity to study with some of the world's greatest percussionists and drum set artists, including Valerie Naranjo (SNL house band, Lion King on Broadway), George "Butch" Ballard (Duke Ellington, Count Basie), Derico Watson (Victor Wooten), Ivan Trevino, and others. Following graduation this Spring, Ben plans to attend Princeton Theological Seminary as a candidate for a Master of Divinity. At Princeton Theological, he hopes to continue his lifelong quest of marrying music with ministry.