Amateur Luthier
Andy Dennen
Musician
Gurnee,IL
Summary
Hardworking performance leader skilled at selecting and arranging musical pieces in order to maximize audience engagement and enjoyment. Adept at reading an audience and responding with appropriate dynamics. Additionally, capable of setting and maintaining optimal sonic quality, regardless of environment.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
Work History
Band Leader
Cover Story - An Acoustic Duet
Gurnee, IL
06.2019 - Current
- Transposed pieces from one instrument to another and one key to another to accommodate client and musician preferences.
- Worked on tours, recordings and film orchestrations.
- Collaborated with performers and producers to determine and achieve desired sound for production.
- Selected and arranged music for scores of performances and special events.
- Determined voices, instruments, harmonic structures, rhythms, tempos and tone balances required to achieve effects desired in each musical composition.
- Used gestures to shape music being played, communicating desired tempo, volume and other performance aspects.
Band Leader, Vocalist and Guitar Player
The Celtniks
Chicago, IL
09.2017 - Current
- Assessed musicians and assigned instruments and parts for songs and concerts.
- Interpreted different music by making use of voice production, harmony, rhythm and melody to present characterization.
- Selected music carefully to achieve balance of musical styles such as traditional Irish and modern Irish musical styles.
- Generated singing exercises to develop voice.
- Applied knowledge of harmony, melody, rhythm and voice production to individualize presentations and maintain audience interest.
- Planned 12 concerts yearly and marketed concerts the general public.
Lead Worship Musician
Congregation BJBE
Deerfield, IL
11.2008 - Current
- Sang and accompanied morning and Friday evening worship services on guitar as part of worship team.
- Composed and taught 15+ original liturgical settings and arranged and taught dozens of secular musical pieces.
- Used printed text and musical notations to memorize musical selections and routines.
- Positioned members within ensemble to obtain balance among instrumental and vocal sections.
Composer and Recording Artist
Self
Gurnee, IL
02.2005 - Current
- Composed, recorded, produced, and played on eight albums of original Jewish liturgical and non-liturgical music
- To hear my work, please search for: Andy Dennen on Spotify
Education
No Degree - Music Performance
University of Miami
Miami, FLNo Degree - Music Technology
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WISkills
Guitar knowledge
Composition
Song selection expert
Mixing skills
Optimizing sound
Arranging music
Songwriting
Live sessions
Accomplishments
Took The Celtniks to the pinnacle of performance by securing St. Patricks Day gigs at House of Blues in downtown Chicago. This is an annual gig.
Affiliations
Guild of Temple Musicians
Interests
Gourmet cook
Lutier
I have built guitars, basses and mandolins from scratch. These instruments are in use by working musicians.
Timeline
Band Leader
Cover Story - An Acoustic Duet
06.2019 - Current
Band Leader, Vocalist and Guitar Player
The Celtniks
09.2017 - Current
Lead Worship Musician
Congregation BJBE
11.2008 - Current
Composer and Recording Artist
Self
02.2005 - Current
No Degree - Music Performance
University of Miami
No Degree - Music Technology
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee