Andrew Bruhn

Biography

Andrew Bruhn is the Director of Choral Activities at Illinois State University, where he conducts Concert Choir, Belle Voix (advanced treble), and teaches conducting. A versatile musician, Dr. Bruhn has worked as a professional choral conductor, educator, composer, church musician, and trumpeter.

His teaching experience spans middle school, high school, and collegiate levels, earning multiple honors including Golden Apple Foundation nominations, consistent recognition on the “Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students” list at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and both the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts and University-level ISU 2025 Creative Initiative Awards. Under his leadership, ISU Choirs were named 2025 Honorable Mention for The American Prize in Choral Performance (college/university division, larger program) for their performance of Mozart’s Requiem.

Andrew received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Music at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign studying with Andrew Megill. He earned his Master of Sacred Music degree in choral conducting from Luther Seminary and St. Olaf College where he studied with Anton Armstrong and Christopher Aspaas. Andrew’s Bachelor of Music degree is in Trumpet Performance from Wheaton College.

As a trumpeter he performed with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, World Youth Symphony Orchestra at Interlochen, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago (training orchestra for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra). He performed under conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, John Nelson, Gerard Schwartz, and James DePriest. Dr. Bruhn was a student at the Interlochen Arts Camp, winning the Fine Arts Award for Trumpet in 2000 and was the Emerson Scholar (full tuition) from Illinois in 2003. In 2005 he studied at the Aspen Music Festival and School. Andrew performed at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and the National Trumpet Competition. He won the October 2004 International Trumpet Guild Young Artist Award. His teachers were William Scarlett, Charles Geyer, and Barbara Butler.

A prolific composer, his music is published by many major publishers including Alfred Music, Carl Fischer, Lawson-Gould, Hinshaw, Augsburg Fortress, Santa Barbara, Heritage Music Press, GIA, Choristers Guild, Kjos, Concordia, and Paraclete Press. He studied with Alice Parker and David Cherwien. Andrew won the 2017 Illinois American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Composition Contest and has been a finalist for other national composition contests such as The American Prize. Dr. Bruhn loves spending time with his wife, their two daughters, and golden retriever.