MEET
Andrew Krahm

​​​​​​Andrew Krahm is the Orchestra Director and AP Music Theory Teacher at Lawrence High School. He also serves as the school's Pit Orchestra Director, Music Producer, and Tri-M Music Honor Society Moderator. After extensive levels of dedication and perseverance, Andrew is currently a tenured teacher at Lawrence. Krahm is a seasoned performing musician, having performed on three continents. One of these took him to Australia, where he was a soloist at venues like the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Maritime Museum. He has participated in the Montreux Jazz Festival, as well as the Heineken Jazzaldia and What is Music as an instrumentalist and vocalist.

As a soloist, Krahm has performed repertoire on various instruments in multiple recitals, as well as in various ensemble configurations. Krahm is an avid educator and has developed an extensive private studio around Long Island. He has worked as a band and orchestra director at all age levels in private and public schools. He has also served on the boards of the Long Island String Festival Association (LISFA) as Chairperson and as Division 5 Co-Chairperson for the NMEA (Nassau Music Educators Association) All-County Ensemble.
 
In his spare time, Krahm is an active member of the Rockville Centre Fire Department and was the 101st Captain of his engine company. He has been an active instructor in Chinese Gojo for several years as a third-degree black belt and has been a student of the style for over two decades. He enjoys spending time biking and performing various physical fitness activities. All of these are things that are brought into the classroom to make a fully enriched and well-rounded educational approach.​

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BAFFA is so excited to have Andrew as their Guest Orchestra Director for our upcoming concert, Shades of Music. We were able to interview him and ask some questions about his experience as a music director and musician.

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Why were you interested in joining BAFFA as Orchestra Director?

"I saw that there was an opportunity to get to conduct an orchestra, which is something that I do as a high school orchestra director, but also have always wanted to do in a professional setting! So when I saw that BAFFA was looking for a conductor, I was eager to get the chance to get to do that and meet some amazing people and perform some fantastic orchestral literature!"

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Can you describe your favorite experience with conducting musical ensembles?

"It's hard to narrow it down to one singular experience as my "favorite". I took my group to NYSSMA Majors for my first time as a director. I was nervous for them and I wanted my kids to do amazing! Performing the program (which we concertized less than 24 before) for the judges felt electrifying! It was nerve wracking, exciting, exhilarating and so much more! AND THEY GOT A GOLD!! But the sensation I love the most? When you've worked so hard on any piece and then it all locks into place and that sense of chills rushes through your body. The smile that I have when that happens is BEYOND genuine. That's the purest form of happiness and it's infectious among the ensemble!"

 

What was the most challenging piece of music that you have conducted? Where was it and why was it so challenging?

"Every piece has its own challenges, I try to learn from every single time I'm on the box. Whether it's a rehearsal, or concert, I am always aiming to improve! But the most challenging was the Vivaldi Gloria when I was at Saint Mary's High School. It was the first time working alongside a vocal group and have to conduct in tandem with a colleague! Having so many forces of nature in one space was quite a lot for a conductor who's never done that before!"

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What are the feelings that you experience when conducting/directing an orchestra? Do you have different feelings from conducting rehearsals to conducting concerts?

"My goal whenever I take the podium is to help any and all musicians bring out the best version of the composition they can perform! The orchestra did the hard work learning the music (dealing with me!), working out the difficult passages and everything else in the rehearsal process. I didn't do anything, MY FELLOW PEFORMERS DID! So rehearsals are fast paced and detail orientated, but the concert is almost an out of body experience where I enjoy the thrill or performance along with all the instrumentalists on stage!"

 

What's the most unexpected thing that's ever happened to you while conducting/directing?

"I was conducting a piece that was referencing the Iditarod (Alaskan sled dog race). Therefore, I created a visual component for the audience to enjoy while we performed! I had to visually cue the sound board to change from one visual to another. In the concert, the presentation glitched out and flipped back and forth all the while! AND?? Somebody tried to AirDrop something to my iPad I was conducting from while this was happening! Thank GOD I knew the piece from memory because I simply closed my iPad and conducted the remainder of the piece including all visual cues from memory!"

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What has been your favorite experience been while being involved in an orchestra, either as a conductor or musician?

"I have had the great fortune of performing with various types of ensemble on multiple continents and various world renowned venues. While all of those were truly amazing experiences, the one memory that stood out for me was my final concert in my graduate studies. Not only did I get my final time conducting the LIU Post Orchestra, I also was fortunate enough to serve as Concert Master as the normal concertmistress was performing a concerto in the concert. It was truly an amazing experience that I often times think back too!"

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What are you most excited about with directing the BAFFA Symphony Orchestra?

"I am truly excited to get to meet people who are truly passionate and love getting to perform outstanding orchestral literature! Getting to meet people who share the same passion and commitment is how friendships and bonds are forged! I truly can't wait to make some of these amazing memories!!!"