This year, BMP is poised to provide over 800 youth with weekly music education at 11 sites throughout Greater Boston. With our steady expansion, we are excited to welcome a full-time Program Manager, Andrew 'Andy' Kucenski to the BMP team.
An accomplished hornist, Andy has performed in historic venues throughout the world, from Carnegie Hall in New York City to the Royal Conservatory of Ghent in Belgium. Additionally, he has extensive research experience in music theory and musicology with a specialization in film score study. Most recently, Andy has played as substitute horn for the Altoona Symphony Orchestra in Pennsylvania, performing a wide variety of repertoire ranging from classical music to iconic movie music. Andy holds two degrees and a minor from Penn State, including a BA in Music, MA in Music, and a minor in Information Science Technology. In his free time, he likes to arrange and compose music, go on nature walks, play video games, and spend time with his friends.
Recently, we asked Andy to share a bit more about his musical background and his life in and around music.
Who were some of your musical inspirations growing up?
My first musical inspiration was my dad. He was an accordion player, and I have many memories of going to his polka gigs. I thought it was the coolest thing in the world. Eventually, I joined band, chorus, and orchestra in middle school and continued these ensembles throughout high school (as well as marching band). I was fortunate to have amazing teachers in each ensemble who fostered our musical skills and became great mentors. It wasn't until my senior year of high school that my band director convinced me that I wanted to pursue music in college.
What energizes you most as a musician?
Music remains an inherently social art. I could record a multitrack arrangement by myself, or I could perform with a 50-person wind ensemble. Either way, every time I pick up the horn, I am communicating and expressing ideas to an audience. That level of interaction cannot be replicated easily. For instance, I marched in the Penn State Blue Band; on every home game Saturday, I was able to connect with thousands of people and represent my university through music. This example is one of many that energizes me the most as a musician. Being able to see music's impact on others motivates me.
What are you most excited about joining the BMP team?
Currently, I look forward to meeting everyone on the team in person! As for the upcoming school year, I'm excited to work and meet with families and communities throughout Boston. It's looking to be an exciting year!
What are you looking forward to most about living in Boston?
I am a huge fan of great food, history, and museums. Boston happens to have a LOT of those three things. I fully plan on exploring the city and surrounding areas. There is a multitude of great parks and natural areas in and around the city as well.
Outside of music, what are some things you enjoy doing that brings you joy?
Recently, I've been solo-camping in my Prius (which happens to be a GREAT car for camping). New England offers a vast amount of natural spaces including mountains, lakes, and national parks. I am incredibly eager to explore them. In my free time, I enjoy playing board games and video games with friends, cooking, and watching Netflix or Disney+ (I'm looking forward to the new Avatar: The Last Airbender series!).
We invite you to enjoy this recording of Andy playing principal horn for the Penn State Philharmonic’s performance of Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier Suite.
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