16 year old Andrew Morris started learning drums as part of a children’s percussion group at the local music centre when he was around 4 years old. In 2019 he changed to his current teacher Mark Concar, with whom he has studied ever since. Since venturing into tuned percussion, Andrew plays with the Love Music Trust Senior Percussion Ensemble, including a performance by the group at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the 2022 Music For Youth Proms. The Percussion Ensemble also commissioned an original composition ‘Premonition’ with partner ensemble SO Strings, which was recorded and filmed locally.
After taking part in NCO Projects North in 2022, Andrew joined the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain (2023-2024 & 2024-2025) and the National Youth Concert Band (2024 & 2025) before joining the National Youth Orchestra (NYO) in 2025. This has allowed him to perform at many of the UK’s top venues, including the Bridgewater Hall, the Barbican and the Royal Festival Hall.
Over the upcoming summer ’26, Andrew is looking forward to playing with the National Youth Orchestra at Symphony Hall, Snape Maltings and a BBC Proms appearance at the Royal Albert Hall, which will be broadcast on television and radio.
Candidate’s musical aspirations: Currently I have a 2nd hand 4.3 octave marimba, however I am now learning repertoire for a 5-octave marimba and my only opportunity to practise on a full-size marimba is during my weekly lesson. I am currently in the National Youth Orchestra (NYO), and I have applied to be a member of the 2026-27 orchestra.
My long-term plan is to study music at a conservatoire and become a professional musician, so having daily access to such a high-quality instrument would really help me to develop my playing and musical skills to the standard I need to achieve these goals.
Andrew is the newest recipient of Cherubim’s Marimba One 4000