Originally from Scotland, Andy moved to Canada in 2005 and now lives in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley with his wife and four children. He has collaborated and shared his musical expertise with us over the years and currently teaches guitar to two of our nephews (on skype!). We are thrilled that he’s able to join us again this year!
Described as “one of his generation’s leading instrumentalists”, Andy is a greatly accomplished player of most things fretted and an avid arranger of all things Celtic. His music has led him to stages in France, Italy, Belgium, Estonia, the Netherlands, Denmark, Turkey, Russia, England, Wales, the USA and Canada. His powerful and varied guitar and bouzouki playing has backed many leading acts, including Dougie MacLean MBE and a number of JUNO award winners.
Coming from Scotland, Andy has played with a great number of the country’s leading Celtic musicians including: Phamie Gow, Martin O’Neill, Duncan Lyall and Julie Fowlis. He has also taught at many leading institutions such as the Isle of Skye’s Gaelic College, Seal Mor Ostaig. Never one to turn down a challenge, Andy has been involved in everything from teaching music workshops on World Cultures, Celtic Music Theory, and Junk Music, to being lifted up in a mobile crane playing electric guitar over the roof of a stately home.
As a resident of Canning, Nova Scotia, Andy runs ‘Webster’s Guitar Academy’ which is a school of music that offers lessons in everything from mandolin and classical guitar to online scores of Celtic tunes arranged for DADGAD guitar. In addition to his teaching, Andy is also a composer whose compositions have been selected for various compilation albums across Europe. You may have even heard them as they’ve seen much radio play worldwide.
We can’t wait to welcome Andy back to Music Camp in July and look forward to everyone in attendance having a chance to meet and work with him too!
To learn more about Andy’s Guitar Academy, visit his website here (Webster’s Guitar Academy).