About Andy Preston

Andrew {Andy} Preston was brought up in a house full of musical instruments, and his path took him deep into two worlds:  Jazz Bass and Youth Orchestra.  After receiving an MM in Jazz performance at the University of SC, he became the Orchestra Coordinator for the Lexington 2 School District, where he taught at two high schools and founded the District String Festival. In addition to playing bass around SC & NC, he also served as a South Carolina Philharmonic Youth Orchestra conductor.  During this time, his orchestras scored superior ratings and performed at music education conferences, but he considers his greatest achievement to be the number of music lovers he helped create, including his son Drew, who plays violin and mandolin for a living.

Andy retired from public school teaching and has been an active bassist and cellist in Western NC since he arrived in 2019, performing on acoustic and electric bass in many musical settings ranging from jazz to bluegrass.  In addition to freelancing in the greater Asheville area at such venues as The Biltmore Estate, he’s the resident bassist at the legendary Flat Rock Playhouse.  He has taught bass, guitar, mandolin, violin, viola, and cello as a private teacher.  As a public school teacher, he taught K-college.