Ocean Grove, Victoria, Australia
In 2013 took the plunge, stepping into the role of self-managed Singer/Songwriter/Musician. This included releasing my debut album "It's About Time" in July 2014 which featured the amazing talents of the late, great Chris Wilson, Australian legendary Blues Singer/Musician and Harmonica player, as well as his off-sider, Sarah Carroll, the Ukulele Queens of The Bellarine. I was extremely humbled and honoured that they joined me on this new venture/dream of mine, and will always be very thankful for their support. I have since released a further two albums, Remind Myself (2017) and the double CD Live At New Hall (2019) which was a particularly special release, as the concept was birthed in my pitch for the Queenscliff Music Festival Emerging Artist Grant in 2017, which I was (and still am) thrilled to say was successful. What ensued was a mammoth task of organising a live recording of all new material and using all local creatives from start finish (musicians, sound engineers, photographers, graphic designers, the works), co-ordinating all of this as well as setting it up as an event for an audience to be a part of. The recording took place at New Hall in Point Lonsdale with Nick Huggins at the helm of the recording. Live At New Hall is an 18 track double CD which was also released on Vinyl (select tracks with digital download of the full album). In addition to songwriting and performing, I’m a private tutor (singing/piano), and am the founder of Ocean Grove Acoustic Sessions which first started in January 2016, giving musicians the chance to connect with and jam with others in the area who don't necessarily have the desire to be in a band and juggling the pressures that are often associated with performing. I was the Choir Director of the Tides of Welcome community choir based in Queenscliff, Victoria, and have been a mentor at the Blues Boot Camp (Bendigo and Drysdale), and have ran classroom music programs (Prep to Year 6). Basically, I love sharing music with people, and although the East Coast Tour I’d spent countless hours working on for 2020 came to a screaming halt once covid19 hit, I’ve been enjoying getting creative in new ways. Including the release of a new “lockdown” style film clip for my song Dance The Blues Away, and organising an online festival (Americana On The Bellarine) which featured yours truly alongside Sarah Carroll, Wayne Jury, Nathan Seeckts and Gretta Ziller.
Andrea and drummer/husband, David Robertson, started up Ocean Grove Acoustic Sessions - aimed at adults who can already play instruments but don't have the confidence, or the connections, to get together with other musicians and jam. Held monthly in their home town, Ocean Grove Acoustic Sessions brings together lovers of music, who just want the chance to play music without the pressures of organising gigs and being in front of an audience.
Singer (Grade 8 Modern Singing, ANZCA) Musician (Piano/Keys, Guitar, Ukulele, Percussion) Songwriter Private Tutor (Piano/Singing) Classroom Teacher (Prep to Year 6) Choir Director (Tides of Welcome Choir) Director (Ocean Grove Acoustic Sessions - Adult music group) After playing music, singing and songwriting for many years, I took a big leap in 2013 and stepped into music full-time. It's the creative process that I love; it's such a buzz to sit down at the piano or pick up a guitar or ukulele, strum away and feel a song begin to grow. I have complete respect for all music genres and I personally have many influences which go back to the days of mum and dad's vinyl blaring out of their top quality hi-fi (music was playing in our house more often than it wasn't), but "real" music is where it's at for me - if you can't play/perform it live, I'm not terribly interested. Sharing this love that I have for music with people is what I want to do - whether it's just by someone coming along to a gig and listening to my songs, working with the young or the young at heart, I just love the way people connect with music at some level - there is something for everyone and it knows no boundaries.
I commenced leading the popular Tides of Welcome Choir in September 2014, taking over the position from Tiffany Eckhardt, with her successor being Sarah Carroll, who helped found the Tides of Welcome Choir in 2003. I facilitate weekly rehearsals (running in conjunction with Victorian school terms), selecting a broad range of songs suitable for a large group of people (30 people maximum), organising arrangements and often 3 or 4 part harmonies, also offering solo opportunities from time to time. My aim as a Choir director is to always be well-prepared, creating a relaxed and inclusive environment but challenging members at the same time, creating interesting arrangements that bring out the best in the broad range of voices who make up the Tides of Welcome Choir.
Job-sharing this position with my drummer/percussionist/husband, David Robertson (endorsed by Toca Percussion), David and I visit the school on alternate weeks, running a comprehensive music program for all ages, Prep to Year 6. In 2016, we also organised a whole school concert, selecting suitable songs for each class/year level to work on, including singing, extensive use of hand drums and percussion, ukuleles and Boom Whackers. A very original approach to performing with no backing tracks in use at all, and an absolute hit with students, families, staff and the broader school community.
Job-sharing this position with my drummer/percussionist/husband, David Robertson (endorsed by Toca Percussion), and rotating classes on a term-by-term basis, David and I ran a comprehensive music program from January 2014 to December 2016 which catered to all ages from Prep to Grade 6 at Barwon Heads Primary School. I also formed a school band each year made up of Grade 6 students, starting with an audition process and once the band members were selected, organising weekly rehearsals where students learned new songs and gained insight to the runnings of a band, including the setting up and packing up process (not just the stage glory!) as well as performances in front of family, friends and the school community.