Andy Brick
Encyclopedia
Andy Brick is an American composer, conductor and symphonist.
A native of suburban Chicago, Brick studied composition under Leslie Bassett
at the University of Michigan
. He then completed graduate studies in composition at the Mannes School of Music in Manhattan
. In 1990 he arranged music for Sesame Street
, and wrote scores for independent films. In 1996 he won a competition sponsored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, which allowed him to score a film and record the composition with a live orchestra in Hollywood. Having previously worked primarily with synthesized music, Mr. Brick called this '"a defining moment".
Andy Brick has composed and/or orchestrated music for game titles that include Maxis’ Sim City: Rush Hour, Midway Entertainments’ Stranglehold, Electronic Arts’ Sims 2 and Warhammer Online: Day of Reckoning as well as Nintendos Super Mario Bros., Bungie's Halo 3, and Square Enix Final Fantasy series. His music has also been featured in such game titles as Arc The Lad by Working Designs, Shadoan by Interplay, The Far Reaches by 3DO, Tesselmania by MECC and others.
In August 2003 Brick conducted the Czech National Symphony Orchestra in the world's first Symphonic Game Music concert at the Gewandaus in Leipzig Germany. Andy wrote the fanfare to this historic concert event where his music for Merregnon II was featured. Andy Brick served as the exclusive principal conductor and music director of the concert series leading repeatedly sold out performances from 2003-2007.
Brick has conducted over 70 game titles including Final Fantasy, Super Mario Bros., Legend of Zelda, Halo, and World of Warcraft with orchestras throughout the world including Prague Symphony Orchestra
, Moravian Philharmonic, Bratislava Symphony, The Czech National Symphony, The North Carolina Symphony, The Eugene Symphony, The Filmharmonic of Prague and members of the New York Philharmonic and Detroit Symphony. His performances have been described as "Mesmerizing" leading to "Thunderous ovations generally reserved for Rock Stars." . He has also worked in films for productions such as The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea
and The Music Man
.
Brick is a Distinguished Associate Professor of Music at the Stevens Institute of Technology
in Hoboken, New Jersey
. He has also been the subject of feature stories on the CBS Evening News
, and Billboard Magazine.
A native of suburban Chicago, Brick studied composition under Leslie Bassett
Leslie Bassett
Leslie Bassett is an American composer of classical music, and the University of Michigan’s Albert A. Stanley Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Composition...
at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. He then completed graduate studies in composition at the Mannes School of Music in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. In 1990 he arranged music for Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
, and wrote scores for independent films. In 1996 he won a competition sponsored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, which allowed him to score a film and record the composition with a live orchestra in Hollywood. Having previously worked primarily with synthesized music, Mr. Brick called this '"a defining moment".
Andy Brick has composed and/or orchestrated music for game titles that include Maxis’ Sim City: Rush Hour, Midway Entertainments’ Stranglehold, Electronic Arts’ Sims 2 and Warhammer Online: Day of Reckoning as well as Nintendos Super Mario Bros., Bungie's Halo 3, and Square Enix Final Fantasy series. His music has also been featured in such game titles as Arc The Lad by Working Designs, Shadoan by Interplay, The Far Reaches by 3DO, Tesselmania by MECC and others.
In August 2003 Brick conducted the Czech National Symphony Orchestra in the world's first Symphonic Game Music concert at the Gewandaus in Leipzig Germany. Andy wrote the fanfare to this historic concert event where his music for Merregnon II was featured. Andy Brick served as the exclusive principal conductor and music director of the concert series leading repeatedly sold out performances from 2003-2007.
Brick has conducted over 70 game titles including Final Fantasy, Super Mario Bros., Legend of Zelda, Halo, and World of Warcraft with orchestras throughout the world including Prague Symphony Orchestra
Prague Symphony Orchestra
The Prague Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1934 by Rudolf Pekárek. In the 1930s the orchestra performed the scores for many Czech films, and also appeared regularly on Czech radio. An early promoter of the orchestra was Dr...
, Moravian Philharmonic, Bratislava Symphony, The Czech National Symphony, The North Carolina Symphony, The Eugene Symphony, The Filmharmonic of Prague and members of the New York Philharmonic and Detroit Symphony. His performances have been described as "Mesmerizing" leading to "Thunderous ovations generally reserved for Rock Stars." . He has also worked in films for productions such as The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea
The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea
The film's official soundtrack was released on September 19, 2000. The soundtrack was released internationally on October 31, 2000 in a special edition double pack with the original film's soundtrack...
and The Music Man
The Music Man
The Music Man is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to naive townsfolk before skipping town with...
.
Brick is a Distinguished Associate Professor of Music at the Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology is a technological university located on a campus in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA – founded in 1870 with an 1868 bequest from Edwin A. Stevens. It is known for its engineering, science, and technological management curricula.The institute has produced leading...
in Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
. He has also been the subject of feature stories on the CBS Evening News
CBS Evening News
CBS Evening News is the flagship nightly television news program of the American television network CBS. The network has broadcast this program since 1948, and has used the CBS Evening News title since 1963....
, and Billboard Magazine.