Virtuosi GUS Band - Composer in Residence; Editor - SA Bandsman magazine

Andrew Wainwright was born in Hastings in 1981 but spent his early years in Africa, where he became interested in music through his membership of The Salvation Army.  After completing two years of a BA Graphic Design degree, he decided to embark on a BA Music Degree at Middlesex University, which he commenced in May 2005, specialising in composition.

Andrew first received acclaim for his compositional skills when in 1997 he came runner-up in Performance, The Arts Channel’s Young Composer of the Year for Great Britain. However, his biggest compositional project to date was arranging Karl Jenkins’ 'The Armed Man - A Mass for Peace' for brass band, choir and organ. It has been performed by numerous groups across the world and a CD was produced of the work in May 2007, followed by a DVD by Black Dyke Band in 2010 of a live performance at Birmingham Symphony Hall.

Recent projects have included commissions from David Daws, David Childs, Chris Jeans, James Fountain, Les Neish and Sheona White, as well as several arrangements for ITV’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ star Faryl Smith and BBC Radio 2 Young Choirgirl of the Year, Lucy Rhodes. He has had several pieces published and has had compositions played by Black Dyke, Foden’s, Cory, Fairey’s, The International Staff Band, the Brass Band Aid Celebrity Band (all-star band) and Virtuosi GUS Band.

As a performer, conductor and tutor, Andrew has completed tours to the USA, Switzerland, Portugal, Cyprus, Norway, Denmark and Zambia. He has played baritone with a number of bands including the Brass Band Aid Celebrity Band, Clarence Adoo Brass Band, Clarence Adoo All-star Ensemble and Hendon Band although the highlight of his playing career was performing with World and European Champions, Cory Band, at the Royal Albert Hall in October 2008. Andrew is a member of Kettering Citadel Band of The Salvation Army and is a regular soloist on concert programmes, having formerly been a member of  Virtuosi GUS Band. He also features as a soloist on the latest Kettering Citadel Band CD.

In 2010, after a spell of just over two years with Virtuosi GUS Band and contributing a number of compositions and arrangements to the band’s repertoire, Andrew was appointed as their Composer & Arranger in Residence.

Andrew has been responsible for the organisation of a number of charity concerts over the past few years, in particular the Brass for Africa - A Musical Spectacular series which has so far raised in excess of £8,000 for various African projects and has garnered widespread critical acclaim.

Andrew works for Salvationist Publishing & Supplies and World of Brass as a graphic designer and  teaches brass in his spare time. He is also Editor of SA Bandsman magazine and is a regular reviewer for British Bandsman magazine.