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Andy Farber

Lecturer of Jazz Studies, Arranging

Award-winning jazz composer, arranger, and saxophonist Andy Farber has worked extensively with legendary jazz singer Jon Hendricks and with Jazz at Lincoln Center Director Wynton Marsalis. He met Hendricks in 1993 and collaborated on his CD Boppin’ at the Blue Note, writing arrangements featuring Hendricks and guests Al Grey, Marsalis, Benny Golson, Red Holloway, and Clark Terry. He has written arrangements for numerous artists and ensembles including Shirley Horn, Ray Charles, Bobby Short, Regina Carter, Lee Konitz, Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, B.B. King, Bob Dylan, Frankie Laine, Robert Downey Jr., Fantasia Barrino, Vanessa Williams, The Count Basie Orchestra, the Boston Pops Orchestra, Philly Pops Orchestra, and several symphony orchestras throughout Europe.

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Farber has toured with Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra where he has also served as guest conductor. Additionally, he has been a guest conductor with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, the Bronx Arts Ensemble, Traverse City Symphony Jazz Orchestra, and for numerous university and high school ensembles. In 2013 Marsalis asked Farber to assemble the Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars which was featured in the Broadway musical After Midnight and garnered seven Tony Award nominations. He continues to lead the 16-piece Andy Farber Orchestra, which backed up Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga for their PBS special Cheek to Cheek Live. Farber has been on the faculty at Juilliard since 2010 teaching jazz composition and arranging. In 2015 was named music director of the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop.

Outside of the jazz world, Farber composes music for Television and film.