Canadian-born violist Andrew Duckles enjoys a diverse musical life as a recording artist, chamber musician, soloist, and teacher. From a very tall family of musicians, Andrew is the “runt” of the Duckles family, standing at a meager 6’4”. Formerly principal viola of the Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet orchestras, Mr. Duckles has made guest appearances as principal viola of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Long Beach Symphony, and the New West Symphony. From 1999 to 2002, Andrew spent three seasons performing, recording, and touring with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. An enthusiastic chamber musician, Mr. Duckles appears regularly as a guest artist on a number of chamber music series throughout the United States and Europe and has shares the stage frequently with the Alexander String Quartet and the exquisite flute-harp duo Arpa y Aulos. Andrew teaches viola and chamber music at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach.

As a recording artist, Mr. Duckles is featured on a multitude of studio albums, television, and motion picture soundtracks. Andrew has been featured as a performer on television programs such as Saturday Night Live, The American Music Awards, The Grammys, and the Tonight Show. Andrew has degrees from both the Eastman School of Music and the New England Conservatory and is still working hard to pay back the small fortune he borrowed to pay for his musical education. His hobbies include cartooning, following international soccer, and collecting great music. Andrew is married to culinary genius, master educator, and French horn player extraordinaire Laura Strand. Together they live in Belmont Shore, California with their two sons and three cats.