Andrew Markel
is an avid performer, composer, and educator in the Columbus Area. In addition to teaching music, Andrew has spent the last 20 years studying trombone and composition. He often transfers his knowledge of teaching trombone to other brass instruments, playing horn, trumpet, and tuba regularly - and teaching trombone and trumpet weekly.
As a trombonist, Andrew was a part of the CSU trombone studio under the direction of Dr. Bradley Palmer. While in the group, they traveled to California as guests at the International Trombone Festival, and internationally as guest artists at the SliderAsia Conference in Hong Kong, China. Andrew also played and produced for the album Full Tilt, which features Andrew's composition "La Reconquista." Andrew is the lead trombonist in the Cavaliers Jazz Orchestra, a longstanding ensemble in Columbus dating back to the 1940s. This big band performs shows regularly in the Columbus area.
As a composer, Andrew has worked closely with Italian trombone soloist Peter Steiner, American trombonist Brian Hecht, and Dutch trombonist Martin Schippers, composing and arranging works performed worldwide on their tours. He commissions works for the CSU trombone choir, the STS professors' choir, large consortium projects, and high school trombone octets. In 2015, he was selected to have his trombone quartet, “Clown Car,” premiered at the 2015 Third Coast Trombone Retreat. Since that time, Andrew's composition style has become more defined and has gained popularity on the international level. He has had original pieces performed by over 100 universities internationally, Brian Hecht of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Duo Steiner-Hochwartner, the CSU Philharmonic, trombone and clarinet "Duo Atpiqué", and multiple high schools, among others. Many premieres happened at the International Trombone Festivals between 2017 and 2025.
As an educator, Andrew works at Mathews Elementary in Columbus, GA where he teaches general music to 700+ students and has been recognized at the state level (GMEA) for his accomplishments. At Mathews, he runs extracurricular trumpet, piano, drumming, ukulele, and choir groups. He has developed, adapted, and taught many lessons that mix ideas from Koldaly, Orff, and Fierabend methodology to create high-energy and enriching lessons. Andrew teaches to instill a love and appreciation for music in his students while conveying the importance music has in everyday life. Further, Andrew works with the trumpet division of the KinderWinds program - dedicated to providing wind-instrument instruction to 4 to 10-year-olds of the highest caliber. More information can be found at www.kinderwinds.com