Andrew H. Dabczynski composer / arranger

Andrew H. Dabczynski is Emeritus Professor of Music Education at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where he founded the BYU “New Horizons Orchestra,” a beginning string orchestra for adults and a laboratory for string teacher training. In recognition of that work, he was awarded BYU’s Joseph E. White Fellowship for Teaching and Learning. Dr. Dabczynski has held teaching and administrative positions at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, and in the public schools of Penfield and Mamaroneck, New York. In addition, he was the Supervisor of Fine Arts Education in the Waterford, Michigan, School District. Dr. Dabczynski received a B.M. degree in applied viola performance from the Eastman School, and a M.A. from the University of Connecticut, serving there as violist in the graduate string quartet. He also holds a Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Michigan. As a performer, Dr. Dabczynski has played viola in the Rochester Philharmonic, the Hartford Symphony, the Portland (Maine) Symphony, the Kalamazoo Symphony, and the Greenwich (Connecticut) Symphony orchestras. For six years, he was a member of the Colden String Quartet, ensemble-in-residence at Western Michigan University. He also has been an adjunct faculty member at numerous other colleges and at national string workshops. Dr. Dabczynski has held a variety of national committee positions with the American String Teachers Association, and is past-president of the Utah chapter of that organization. Utah ASTA named Dr. Dabczynski their “Higher Education Teacher of the Year” in 2005, and in 2014 awarded him for his “Outstanding Contributions to Music Education.”

Highly respected for his expertise in string pedagogy, Dr. Dabczynski co-authored the widely acclaimed comprehensive string method series, String Explorer, published by Alfred. Additionally, a strong interest in folk music and ethnomusicology has led him to focus his research efforts on fiddling and the transmission of traditional music. In addition to his doctoral dissertation, he has written many articles on the subject of teaching and learning fiddling, both in contemporary America and other cultures. He co-authored the groundbreaking Fiddlers Philharmonic series, also published by Alfred. Dr. Dabczynski has pursued professional and research interests in string pedagogy, school curriculum, and musical learning among senior adults. He appears frequently as a clinician for teachers and guest conductor for student ensembles throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico. He has produced over 120 arrangements, compositions, and pedagogical works for string and full orchestra that are played regularly in concerts throughout the world, and published by Alfred, Boosey and Hawkes, Ludwig, Kendor, and Grand Mesa publishing companies. Now semi-retired, Dr. Dabczynski and his wife Diane, a commercial vocalist and audio book narrator, live in Saco, Maine, and spend their summers not far away in the village of Waterford.