Bio
Andrea is an accomplished arranger and performer born and raised near Los Angeles, California. While earning her Masters in Jazz Studies from The Bob Cole Conservatory at Cal State Long Beach, she was section leader for "Pacific Standard Time," received a 2010 Downbeat Award for Jazz Arranging at the graduate level from Downbeat magazine as well as being a member of the Downbeat Award winning ensemble, took home the "Outstanding Soloist Award" at the Monterey NextGen competition, and was awarded the Ella Fitzgerald Scholarship. Her private students at the college level have won Downbeat Student Award in the jazz solo and pop crossover categories, and her high-school students have been named to the California All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble for 7 consecutive years. Andrea has served as choir-master for Ben Folds with the Dallas Symphony, adjudicated the Brandon jazz festival in Manitoba, Canada, the Cuesta College vocal jazz festival, and served as a judge for the Western ICCA finals, and CMEA classical vocal festivals. With a classical voice degree from CSUF and AA from Mt. SAC, she brings the understanding of California's unique cultural diversity to the classroom with a focus on inclusion and personal transformation.
Andrea Calderwood’s performance résumé includes work with Ben Folds, Genevieve Artadi, Terry Ellis, Dave Pack, John Williams, The L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra, Doc Severinson and the Boston Pops. She is an ACDA, JEN, CAJ, and CMEA member, as well as being a veteran instructor. She has taught at Los Angeles College of Music, Musicians Institute, College of the Canyons, Cerritos College, the Fullerton Union High School District, and is currently the Director of Jazz Vocal Studies at Long Beach City College.
At LBCC, Andrea has lead the elite vocal jazz ensemble "The Lyrical Workers," and an inclusive community Evening Vocal Jazz Choir. They have performed at many festivals, competitions, and conferences across the Western States. She is proud to be a member of the LBCC Equity Task Force, an LBBTQ+ ally, an "Undocu-Ally," and continues to participate in the "Black Minds Matter" professional development series. She has presented an equity talk discussing gaps in jazz education a at CASMEC 2023, and has been selected as a featured performer for the Jazz Education Network Conference in January 2024.
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