Staff

Andrew Spencer

Professor of Percussion

Andrew Spencer, currently holds the position of professor of percussion at Central Michigan University. An active recitalist and clinician, he has performed as a soloist in the United States, Poland, Japan, Canada, and Costa Rica. In 1999, he released “Slender Beams,” a recording that features works by composer Dave Hollinden. Spencer has also premiered works by David Gillingham, Mark Polishook, Samuel Adler, Robert May and Henry Gwiazda among others. Equally experienced in orchestral performance, Dr. Spencer is timpanist with the West Michigan and Lansing Symphony Orchestras, and has acted as Visiting Principal Percussionist for the Midland and Saginaw Orchestras. Additional positions have included timpanist/principal percussionist with the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, Cascade Festival Orchestra, Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra and Fargo-Moorhead Civic Opera Company. He has performed with the Oregon Symphony, Spokane Symphony, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. In addition, he has performed with numerous chamber ensembles throughout the United States, and plays drum set with the CMU Faculty Jazz Ensemble with whom he has recorded two CDs, “Caught In The Act” and “Conspiracy Theory”. Dr. Spencer received his bachelor of music and master of music in performance (percussion) and studied with Dr. Terry Applebaum at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He earned his doctor of musical arts in performance and literature (percussion) from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York where he studied with John Beck. In addition, Eastman granted Dr. Spencer the coveted performer’s certificate as a percussion soloist.  “Spencer’s energy put the piece in overdrive.”

“Spencer’s command of the marimba was phenomenal...”
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

“Spencer exhibited the technique and style of a music master, he was greeted with a standing ovation at the end of the concert.”

“The energetic rhythms and elements of dissonance were masterly performed by Spencer whose [technique] was superb.”
Andres Sanez, music critic
La Nacion (San Jose, Costa Rica)

“...Andrew Spencer…did a magnificent job with this new and unusal work.”

“...Spencer brought them to life with great effect.”
Floyd Famer, music critic
Muskegon Chronicle

“Spencer became focused and ferocious…having passed the secret onto the enraptured audience”
Seattle Post-Intelligencer