Andrew Griffin

I’m from a small village in western Pennsylvania known as Pittsburgh. My dad was a jazz drummer, but he left the career early on to become a banker. He kept up his chops by practicing in our then-concrete basement, so the lush and soothing sounds of trap drums would reverberate through our house at full volume for several hours a day. Funny enough, my brothers and I actually loved it.

In elementary school, there was an instrument fair, and I gravitated to the viola. I wanted to play cello at first, but I thought in case I became good at it down the line, I wouldn’t have to compete as much if I picked the viola. YES, my eight year old brain really thought this! Subsequently, my teacher, Mrs. Funk (fitting!), gave me viola tutoring sessions before school so I could stay in my other extracurricular activities and keep up with orchestra at the same time.

There are a lot of people like this along my timeline. Those who say or do something that really make or break your trajectory.

Today, I realize I’ve had the chance to do some pretty unimaginable things in my music career. Saturday Night Live, film score recordings, and performing in the viola sections of the Houston Symphony and the New York Philharmonic are definitely among my favorite things. I’ve been writing music since I was twelve, but now joining an ensemble that prioritizes celebrating contemporary composers who perform at such a high level feels like coming home. I’m incredibly thrilled to be a part of Alarm Will Sound!