Andrew Koehler, KJSO Conductor

Andrew Koehler was born in the Philadelphia area to Ukrainian parents. He began his musical studies on the violin at the age of five. His first conducting experiences came through leading sectionals as concertmaster of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra. Andrew then continued his interest in conducting while an undergraduate at Yale College, where he completed a B.A. in Music and German Studies, graduating with honors and distinction in both majors. In addition to his academic coursework, violin studies with the late Erick Friedman, and position as principal second violinist of the Yale Symphony Orchestra, Andrew served as assistant conductor of that latter organization, and as a principal conductor of both major student-led orchestras, the Berkeley Orchestra and the Yale Bach Society Orchestra. He studied privately with Ives scholar James Sinclair, organized numerous concerts with ad hoc ensembles, and engineered a partnership between the Bach Society and the Yale College Opera Company, which resulted in a fully-staged production. For these efforts, Andrew was awarded the Joseph Seldin Memorial Prize in his senior year by the Department of Music and the Council of Masters.

Upon graduating, he attended the Aspen Festival’s American Academy of Conducting, working closely with David Zinman, Michael Stern, and Jorma Panula, among others. Afterwards, under the auspices of a Fulbright Grant, Andrew spent two years in Vienna, studying at the Hochschule für Musik with Leopold Hager. During his time there, he was appointed music director of two separate ensembles: the Amerling Choir and the Academic Symphony Orchestra. Returning to America, Andrew completed his Masters degree at Northwestern’s School of Music as a student of Victor Yampolsky.

He has guest conducted the North Shore Chamber Orchestra, and, with only a weekend’s notice, the American Opera Group Orchestra. In 2004, Andrew was appointed Music Director of the Chamber Orchestra at the University of Chicago, significantly raising the level of playing in that ensemble and leading the Hyde Park Herald to call it the “most wonderful orchestra in recent memory.” At the 2006 Vakhtang Jordania International Conducting Competition, Andrew advanced to the final round and won the audience favorite prize.

Along with his position at the Junior Symphony, he is an Assistant Professor and the Director of Orchestral Activities at Kalamazoo College.