Andrew Tweed

Originally from Northern Ireland, Andy studied clarinet and saxophone at Birmingham Conservatoire.  While still a student he joined Saxtet which over 18 years became one the UK’s leading saxophone quartets (eventually a quintet) performing all over the world with their unique repertoire of their own arrangements and compositions.

Andy is a particularly versatile saxophonist, equally at home in the jazz and classical worlds and a leading saxophone educator.  He continues to work on the show circuit including the West End playing all the saxophones, clarinet, flute and bass clarinet. He is a member of Flotilla, a saxophone quartet which includes fellow Birmingham Conservatoire tutor Naomi Sullivan along with Kyle Horch and Alistair Parnell. 

Other performing credits include; Mike Westbrook (various projects), Piccadilly Dance Orchestra, Pasadena Roof Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra.  He also performs regularly with his wife, the accordionist and composer Karen Street as a duo and as part of her jazz project, Streetworks with Mike Outram and Will Harris which released its first album in 2015 to critical acclaim.

He currently is visiting tutor of saxophone at Birmingham Conservatoire responsible for individual lessons, workshops, pedagogy seminars, examinations and auditions, and at Wells Cathedral School where he has the added responsibility directing the Jazz Orchestra. He has given masterclasses, and workshops at Royal College of Music, Trinity Laban, Leeds College of Music, Chetham’s School of Music, Dublin Institute of Technology - Conservatory of Music and various British Saxophone Congresses. Every summer he works on the European Youth Summer Music course.

He has produced or co-produced all of Saxtet’s, Karen Street’s CDs and his own, Spiritualise, released on Big Shed Music. He has music published by Boosey & Hawkes and Saxtet Publications and has written reviews and articles for Music Teacher Magazine. 

Andy is a Yamaha Artist.