Described by National Public Radio's Sacred Classics as "part of the next generation of exciting composers," Andrew Bleckner studied composition with George Crumb at the University of Pennsylvania, and received a Ph.D. in composition in 1995. Recognized as an important voice in the composition of new music, Mr. Bleckner has received composition awards, grants, and fellowships from ASCAP, the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, the American Composers Forum, the University of Pennsylvania, and the MacDowell Colony. His music is published by Boosey & Hawkes, Alliance Music, Transcontinental Music Publications, and Southern Percussion. His folk Oratorio The Children's March was featured at the 2013 Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts.
Bleckner also received a M.Ed. in secondary mathematics and has 3 years experience teaching high school mathematics in the Philadelphia Region. He was part of the Philadelphia Teaching Fellows 2013 cohort. He is passionate about teaching both mathematics and music.