Paul Vandenberg (fellow McGill grad)
I knew Andrew from school, but we really got to know each other during the production of the musical "Ah-Pootee." My favorite memory is when we were rehearsing one of my numbers, and it was giving me a lot of trouble. The range was a bit beyond my capability, and I had a hard time wrapping my head around the melody line. Hot and frustrated, I turned to Andrew and said, "I can't sing this!" He simply got up from his seat and said, "I'll take care of it." The next day he arrived with not a revised copy, but an entirely new song! The next day! The music world will miss his artistry and professionalism.Close

The Sound of Music  Megan Graves (Friend)
I knew Andrew at McGill. We went on a couple of dates - usually roller blading down to the Old Port. I will never forget the night we went for dinner and ended up singing tunes from 'The Sound of Music' and dancing around like madmen in a little square in Montreal. I can't hold a tune and am completely tone deaf but Andrew still said I had a beautiful voice. Around that time, I met him in a pub for a black & tan (Andrew) and a gin & tonic (myself) and we heard the news of Princess Diana's death. He was profoundly affected by the tragic event and we discussed the preciousness of life. I know he loved life and couldn't wait to embrace all that life had to offer every day and I am constantly inspired by him.Close

Earth Angel  Stephanie Kruk (High-school Friend)

It was such a wonderful opportunity to work side-by-side with Andrew on the production of "Earth Angels" (the musical which Andrew wrote and scored) in our final year of highschool.

The lyrics of Andrew's song "Earth Angel" still ring in my heart and mind:

"Night time brings out morning,

Winter brings out spring.

Clouds have silver linings,

Angels have their wings.

Tears will lead to laughter,

Push will come to shove,

And you my dear Earth Angel,

Will be forever loved."

Andrew, you are now our EARTH ANGEL ~ Thank You for Everything. 

You are greatly loved and surely missed. 

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 Iulia Tripa (McGill friend)

I remember rehearsing and singing Andrew's piece 'Maran Atha', with the University Chorus, under the direction of Iwan Edwards. Andrew must have been a true composer, since even today, I remeber that piece. It was more than just notes on paper. It felt like a prayer, or meditation. You can imagine how powerful it can be, when 100 souls unite, with a common urge.

Andrew, thank you.

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A Different Kind of There  Matt Huculak (McGill Friend)
I am not sure how or when I met Andrew, but that is the type of person he is--he is one of those friends who always seemed to be a part of my life from a beginning neither of us could name; Perhaps it was a shared fascination of dawn or sunsets, or the crescent moon near venus on a cold winter night through thick, black branches scratching the sky, or the belief that just perhaps it all meant something and through art we could discover it. In fact, I hesitate to consider this letter as a part of "memory lane" because Andrew has never left me. Whenever I hear a great piece of music, or read a profound poem, my first thought is that I need to share it with Andrew. It is only a moment later that I realize I can't call him, I can't send an email (even though he is still in my address book), or anything like that. That deep, slow hurt in the heart comes upon me until that strange comfort comes like the smell of woodsmoke in the evening: Andrew is there. I recently shared a flight with a wonderful woman in the waning years of her life. She exuded art and wisdom only an elder artist can. We spoke for an hour on the airplane, of life, of love, and finally, of death. I told her of Andrew and my feelings. She shared a similar sentiment she still feels with a lover of hers who has passed on. When she finished telling me of Guy, she paused, and said, "it is not that they are not there, it's just a different kind of there." That phrase, a different kind of there, reigned in every wild emotion I felt about Andrew's death. It's not that he 's not there, it's just a different kind of there. So Andrew, this is for you, and the next time I see you in a poem, in the chord of sweet music, or in the quiet air of a life-changing conversation. Close

bas-baritone  Benoit Pitre (Friend from McGill)

                                                                                                          

I am truly saddened to find out about Andrew's death through an internet search. 

I met great people at McGill that would change my life, out of those Andrew and my wife.  I moved in with Andrew and Amy during my second semester at McGill on St-Mathieu Street in Montréal during his Maran Atha days and had remained friends since. And after I moved out, Andrew and I kept seeing each other at school, singing in chamber singers, but also going out to chat over a beer at a pub, eating at the infamous Place Milton or going to play volleyball in the park.  We then kept in touch by email while he was in Paris (being so happy and proud that he got commissioned by the French orchestra!), and saw each other again when he returned. 

 

The last time we saw each other was in New York City in December (2004), while I was in town for an audition.  In the summer of 2004, I had introduced Andrew to a wonderful pianist I worked with while at Tanglewood, and he was supposed to contact her to play his new piano/cello piece with Julia, the cellist from McGill that was at Julliard. Andrew and I had a great dinner at a small Asian restaurant near Julliard in December 2004 while I was in town auditioning. He seemed as happy and healthy as ever...  We chatted about Marie, his perception of Columbia, his teachers, New York, his one baritone opera, a piano/cello work he wanted to present in NYC in 2005, and told each other once more to keep in touch... I kept trying to reach Andrew by email these last months and getting a "mailbox full" reply. I'm flabbergasted and very sad.  We got along great, being able to have long chats about music and life or simply going to goof off at the arcade!

 

Andrew was a great man with a huge heart and huge talent, and such fun to be around, even though he was a serious hard-worker.

 

We have you in our prayers, and please let us know if Andrew's works will be available to keep his music alive.

                                    September 2005

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 George Rice (Friend, Conductor)

It was an absolute pleasure to be able to help out with the preparation of the vocal score for Andrew's monodrama and it is with extreme regret that I won't be able to make it to the first performance. Andrew was a wonderful human being: a great friend to so many of us and a great musician. I’ll miss him enormously and I can't imagine how great the loss must still feel for you and the rest of your family. I hope to be in North America at the end of January and I would welcome the opportunity of visiting his grave in Burlington. I hope the performance goes well: I'm sure it will stand as a testament to Andrew's immense gift.

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Aspirations  Michael Murray (Fellow Student at High School and Mcgill Music)
Although I didn't know him well Andrew was and still is an inspiration to me because he made me beleive that beautiful music can come out of a suburban upbringing. I was proud to have sung his peice Maranatha, and I wish I had more time to gain some musical guidance.Close

Close friend forever  Isabelle Sturby (childhood friend)

As Andrew's birthday approached (tomorrow), I am left thinking about what a wonderful man and friend he was.  Having known him since the age of 6, we went through many hardships together, as well as many great times.

I am pleased that Andrew's music is still played, and that the MSO/OSM will be featuring one of his greatest accomplishments next January.  I strongly hope that other organizations, especially Canadian ones, will recognize what a remarkable talen Andrew had.

As a musician myself, I know that most phenominal composers were discovered after their deaths.  It is unfortunate, however, that Andrew's life was cut so short.

I miss him dearly, as I'm sure many of you do as well, and will never forget him.  His memory will live on in my heart for the rest of my days.

I miss you Andrew!

 

 

 

 

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Many firsts  Melissa Felix (Friend)

I've always been afraid to venture from the same routines: the same movies, the same menu items, the same restaurants. Generally speaking, I find comfort in familiar things.  Andrew, who was fearlessly outgoing, made it his personal goal to "expose" me to new experiences  :)   

Because of his sometimes unrelentless persistance, the new things I was able to experience, with him at my side, included (but were not limited to):

(a) Harvey's hamburgers and Burger King whoppers (as opposed to my staple Big Mac favourite), 

(b) my highschool prom, 

(c) learning to swim, in lake Ontario,

(d) brie, 

(e) waking up to the most beautiftul classical music I've ever heard, 

(f) veal, but not escargot  :) 

(g) sangria, 

(h) phone calls to Paris, 

(i) Star Wars, My Best Friend's Wedding, Monty Python, the Red Violin, and Amelie, to name a few... 

(j) phone calls from Paris! 

(k) piggybacks downtown, 

(l) practicing dance routines under the stars,

(m) unforgettable hugs.

 

I miss those last two the most.

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Teacher  Stephen Eisenhauer (Friend and fellow musician)

            I met Andrew at McGill University after his return from Paris.  We were teacher’s assistants for a first year theory class together.  We often would correct assignments together in our office and discuss music.  While correcting we would play each other recordings of our own music (a welcome distraction) and share our thoughts.  I was always impressed with Andrew’s attitude toward music; he was open to many styles and never displayed an air of musical eliteness.  His honest, relaxed, and friendly way of interacting was refreshing (a manner made evident in the kind words of others on this website).  It is clear that Andrew was an excellent musician, but also a phenomenal human being.  I think of him often in my daily life, especially when involved in the creation of music.  Andrew lives on in his music, and also in our thoughts, our harmonies, our rhythms, and our melodies.  Thank you Andrew for continuing to be a teacher of life and music.

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Doc  Josef Elster (fried)
Nasi mily pratele, stale vzpominame s vdecnosti na chvile, ktere jsme mohli stravit spolecne s vami. Jsme vdecni a velmi si vasime pratelstvi, ktere pretrvava i na tak velkou vzdalenost. Za celou rodinu Josef ElsterClose

Earth Angel II  Stephanie Kruk (Friend)

Andrew,

Dear Friend.  I am sure you will be listening today when I recite the words of your song, "Earth Angel" today at my grandmother's funeral service.

Those words, that song, I sing them in my head and my heart almost everyday. I will not need a script as you embedded my heart, mind and soul with those words forever...thank you for allowing me to share that with you.

You may be missed, but will never be forgotten. 

XOXOX today, forever and for always.

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