Hailed by WQXR as a “remarkable bassoonist,” Andy Sledge (they/them) has performed in concert halls, teahouses, opera pits, parking lots, and video game soundtracks. A winner of the 2022 Astral National Competition, Andy explores themes such as identity and reverence in concert programs of old and new music.

Striving to expand the sonic possibilities of their instrument, Andy has collaborated with composers such as Nicky Sohn, Alexis C. Lamb, and Samantha Wolf in the creation of works for electric and acoustic bassoon. In 2022, Andy co-founded the Bridge Bassoon Duo with bassoonist Dana Brink. Dedicated to promoting queer voices, the duo has commissioned and premiered music from composers including Meadow Bridgham and Maddy Wildman. An avid orchestral musician, Andy serves as Principal Bassoon of the
Wheeling Symphony Orchestra and Second Bassoon of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra.

As an educator, Andy believes in the study and performance of music as one part of a fulfilling life. Andy currently serves as Assistant Professor at West Virginia University, where they teach bassoon, chamber music, and music theory. They have presented masterclasses at institutions across the country, and they have shared educational and community engagement programs in public schools, arts centers, and retirement communities in Philadelphia and New Haven. Andy is a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate at the Yale School of Music, where they also earned their master’s degree. They received their Bachelor in Music from Vanderbilt University. Andy’s primary teachers include Frank Morelli, Peter Kolkay, Laura Hauser,
and their middle school band director, Paul Scott Black.

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