Andrew Pongracz is the timpanist with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra and principal percussionist with both the Cleveland Chamber Symphony and Youngstown Symphony. He can be heard on the 2007 Grammy-winning recording of Olivier Messiaen’s “Oiseaux Exotiques” with the Cleveland Chamber Symphony. He has performed at the Odenwald Festspiele in Germany, the Cayman Arts Festival in the Cayman Islands and at the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival in Incline Village, NV.

In addition to orchestral work Andrew plays regularly for Great Lakes Theatre at Playhouse Square and has played with Aretha Franklin, The Who, Charo, Frankie Valli, Yes, and Kansas. He has studied with Cleveland Orchestra principal timpanist Paul Yancich, Tom Fries and George Kiteley. Andrew lives in Lakewood with his wife Brenda and their two sons Alexander and Christopher.

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Hiram College
• Master of Music degree at Cleveland State University where he studied with Cleveland Orchestra percussionist Don Miller and legendary drum set artist Bob McKee. 

Alternative Contact Method: andrewpongracz@hotmail.com