Claudia Tower Andres was born and raised in Youngstown and resides in the Village with her husband Dr. Jerome Andres. She began playing piano at the age of five, sang in the choirs at church and school and played clarinet in band. She received her A.S. in Music from N.C.C.C., her B.M. in Education from the Crane School of Music at Potsdam and her M.M. in Piano performance/Accompanying from Arizona State University.
Claudia was employed by First Presbyterian Youngstown for over 30 years, first as Organist/Choir Director then as Music Director. During this time she conducted the Children’s, Youth, Adult and Bell Choirs and directed multiple musicals including Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar, Nunsense and Nuncrackers, Swing Time Canteen, I Never Saw Another Butterfly and multiple seasonal/religious shows including those written with her husband. Claudia also instituted the Concert Series run at the church which featured groups from New York and further performing every type of music from folk trios to classical strings. She also conducted choral performances collaborating with other groups; the Messiah, Elijah, the Three Nations Choir, the Rutter Gloria among others.
Claudia taught piano and was coach/accompanist at N.C.C.C. before beginning her public school teaching experience from which she just retired after over thirty years at NFHS and Wilson school districts. During those years she conducted choirs from elementary to advanced high school and taught general music, piano and college level courses; she also worked as music director and/or director for countless MS and HS musicals. She has won Best Choral Performance multiple times at the Kenny awards, has won Best Overall Performance multiple times at national competitions and just received the BPO/NCMEA Award for Excellence in Music Education.
Claudia began her career as a pianist/accompanist and has performed as concerto soloist with the Niagara Falls Orchestra, the Amherst Symphony Orchestra and twice with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. She has performed hundreds of times as soloist and accompanist and has coached/directed multiple musicals and operas throughout the Arizona and New York areas for almost fifty years – yikes! She will be working with the ASO as part of the ensemble this year and will be back teaching private piano and accompanying groups in the area; this year she is working with Community Music School Buffalo, a Theater of Youth workshop and the Area All State performance as well as coaching area musicals.
Claudia really enjoys performing with the Ladies First Jazz Big Band and smaller ensembles and with her husband’s band Brass Chance. Claudia loves that she can work with the amazing staff and students at CMS again, loving the opportunities that Buffalo – only 40 minutes away – has for musicians of all genres, talents and level of expertise! When not playing piano Claudia enjoys reading, cooking, sailing with her husband, gardening and travel – often to see their widespread family.
Claudia is truly blessed to have six amazing children with their own very different talents, their spouses, and ten (almost eleven) beautiful grandchildren – and of course her wonderful, talented, brilliant and supportive husband Dr. Jerry Andres! She is so happy to be a part of the Community Music School – the spirit, energy and focus on enjoying music while striving for excellence without stress is what made my decision to ‘join the team’ so easy!