Andy Brick American composer, conductor and symphonist Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Breakthrough in Film and Video Game Music
3. Orchestrations for Video Games
4. Conducting and Symphonic Game Music Concerts
5. Collaborations and International Performances
6. Additional Works

Early Life and Education

Andy Brick, an acclaimed American composer, conductor, and orchestrator, was born in suburban Chicago. He studied composition under the renowned American classical composer and pedagogue Leslie Bassett at the University of Michigan, earning a bachelor's degree. Brick pursued graduate studies in composition at Mannes College the New School for Music in Manhattan, receiving his master's degree.

Breakthrough in Film and Video Game Music

In 1990, Brick arranged music for the children's television series "Sesame Street" and composed soundtracks for independent films. A pivotal moment in his career came six years later when he won an American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) competition, securing him the opportunity to score a film and record his composition with an orchestra in Hollywood. This accomplishment paved the way for Brick's career in cinematic and video game music.

Orchestrations for Video Games

Brick's expertise in orchestration has been showcased in numerous video games, including "SimCity 4: Rush Hour" (Maxis), "Stranglehold" (Midway Entertainments), "The Sims 2" (Electronic Arts), "Warhammer Online: Day of Reckoning," and various titles for Nintendo, Bungie ("Halo 3"), and Square Enix ("Final Fantasy" series). His diverse portfolio also includes games such as "Arc The Lad" (Working Designs), "Shadoan" (Interplay), "The Far Reaches" (3DO), and "Tesselmania" (MECC).

Conducting and Symphonic Game Music Concerts

In August 2003, Brick conducted the Czech National Symphony Orchestra in the inaugural "Symphonic Game Music Concerts" at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Germany. He composed fanfares for this historic concert, showcasing his original music from the game "Merregnon II." From 2003 to 2007, Brick served as Principal Conductor and Music Director of the series, leading numerous orchestras worldwide.

Collaborations and International Performances

Brick has conducted orchestras around the globe, performing and recording music from over 70 video and computer games, including "Final Fantasy," "Super Mario Bros.," "Legend of Zelda," "Halo," and "World of Warcraft." He has collaborated with the Prague Symphony Orchestra, Moravian Philharmonic, Bratislava Symphony, and Czech National Symphony Orchestras, as well as the North Carolina Symphony, Eugene Symphony, FILMharmonic Orchestra Prague, and musicians from the New York Philharmonic and Detroit Symphony Orchestras. Critics have praised his electrifying performances, which have earned him standing ovations akin to those for rock stars.

Additional Works

Brick's credits extend beyond video game and film music. He orchestrated and conducted the score for the animated film "The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea" and the musical "The Music Man." He serves as an Adjunct Professor of Music at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, and has been featured in CBS's "Evening News" and "Billboard Magazine."