Soprano and Music Educator, Dena Marie Andrews is a graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. Ms. Andrews holds both a B.M in Music Education and B.M Vocal Performance. In her Undergraduate studies Ms Andrews took on intensive coursework in critical pedagogy, song literature, music historiography, piano and choral conducting. At Westminster she worked under Music Education faculty; Dr. Frank Abrahams, Dr. Sharon Morrow, Dr. Al Holcomb and Dr. Janet Cape. Vocal studies took place under Margaret Cusack, Laura Brooks Rice, Julia Kemp and voice coaches Rochelle Jonck and Akiko Hosaki.
Noted for her vibrant vocal quality and strong musicianship Ms. Andrews has worked under conductors Yannick Nezet Sequin, Rossen Milanov, Valery Gergiev and Jacques Lacombe. Performace highlights include collaborative work with The Philadelphia Orchestra, The London Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. Solo engagements include the New York Premiere of Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings under Eric Whitacre where she shared the Carnegie Hall stage with Hila Plitmann and Daniel Tatar, The Bach Choir of Bethlehem at Zoellner Arts Center as a soloist in the performance of Bach Cantata 140, and solo engagements with the Westminster Conservatory Collegiate Chorale in Judas Maccabaeus. Recent highlights include Lolo in the Merry Widow, the Pergolesi Salve Regina and Bach Cantata 21.
In the Spring of 2017 Ms. Andrews was brought on as an Artist in Residence with The Continuo Arts Foundation with whom she was a recipient of the Milton Cross Emerging Artist Award with the Minuetto Music Festival this past June In addition to being an active performer, Ms Andrews is currently teaching in Northern New Jersey as an elementary and middle school general and choral music teacher. As an educator she believes it is the responsibility of classroom teachers to prepare students with the necessary skills to succeed in 21st century society and to provide them a learning environment in which they can feel safe, nurtured, and encouraged. Ms. Andrews has a passion for invigorating, inclusive and relevant music teaching. She believes the combination of an emancipatory environment and 21st century societal preparation should be a priority for going beyond traditional learning.
Noted for her vibrant vocal quality and strong musicianship Ms. Andrews has worked under conductors Yannick Nezet Sequin, Rossen Milanov, Valery Gergiev and Jacques Lacombe. Performace highlights include collaborative work with The Philadelphia Orchestra, The London Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. Solo engagements include the New York Premiere of Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings under Eric Whitacre where she shared the Carnegie Hall stage with Hila Plitmann and Daniel Tatar, The Bach Choir of Bethlehem at Zoellner Arts Center as a soloist in the performance of Bach Cantata 140, and solo engagements with the Westminster Conservatory Collegiate Chorale in Judas Maccabaeus. Recent highlights include Lolo in the Merry Widow, the Pergolesi Salve Regina and Bach Cantata 21.
In the Spring of 2017 Ms. Andrews was brought on as an Artist in Residence with The Continuo Arts Foundation with whom she was a recipient of the Milton Cross Emerging Artist Award with the Minuetto Music Festival this past June In addition to being an active performer, Ms Andrews is currently teaching in Northern New Jersey as an elementary and middle school general and choral music teacher. As an educator she believes it is the responsibility of classroom teachers to prepare students with the necessary skills to succeed in 21st century society and to provide them a learning environment in which they can feel safe, nurtured, and encouraged. Ms. Andrews has a passion for invigorating, inclusive and relevant music teaching. She believes the combination of an emancipatory environment and 21st century societal preparation should be a priority for going beyond traditional learning.
