KCB Youth Soloists - Where are they now?
1999 – Andrea Steves, Alto Saxophone, St. Joseph High School
1999 KCB Spring Concert Program Notes
Andrea Steves has lived
on the shores of Lake Michigan her entire life. She was introduced to
the saxophone in her hometown of St. Joseph when she was eleven years
old and entered the band program in fifth grade, under the direction of
Mr. Mark Hourigan, Director of Bands for the St. Joseph Public Schools.
She began taking lessons from professional saxophonist Phil Braham of
Dowagiac two years later. Andrea is a sophomore at St. Joseph High
School where she is serving her second year as principal chair in
Symphony Band and Symphony Orchestra. She is lead alto in the Jazz
Ensemble, plays in Pep Band, and performs with the Lake Michigan Youth
Orchestra. Andrea has been named first chair in District All-Star band
for two years, participated in the 1999 Spring Conference at WMU, and
was accepted as one of two alto saxophones in the Michigan State
University High School Honors Band. In 1997 she attended the
Interlochen All-State High School Saxophone Workshop and in 1996 was
named “Most Outstanding Camper” in the Blue Lake Symphonic Band. At
school, she was named “Most Valuable band Student” in 8th and
9th grades and has received consistent Division
Where Is She Now
Andrea completed her undergraduate study at the University of Michigan in 2005, where she majored is Saxophone Performance, Performing Arts Technology, and Computer Engineering. While at Michigan, she was an active performer in UM’s improvisatory ensemble Creative Arts Orchestras, saxophone quartets, and the rock band Domestic Problems. She also worked as a composer and art technologist, producing multimedia work and electronic compositions combining sound, video and technology. After graduation she spent some time in Los Angeles working as an engineer and freelanced writing music for film before returning to Ann Arbor, where she is employed by Google, Inc. Andrea is attending the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, and will graduate in 2009 with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, focusing on Entrepreneurial Studies. She still occasionally performs as a saxophonist, but has recently directed her work across platforms into video, composition, and the interaction of music and technology. She is currently in the process of creating a gallery and performance space within her ecologically-renovated home.
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