Session 4

1:30–2:30 PM

Room D

Designed for singers whose voices have changed or are changing. Focuses on healthy technique, registration balance, range exploration, and building strength and consistency while avoiding tension and fatigue.

Andy Riggs was raised in Franklin, Indiana, the oldest of ten children. His mother loves to tell the story of how she knew Andy would be a musician before he was even born: whenever music played, Andy would kick her ribs in time, following the melodies as they rose and fell. Andy began playing piano and singing in churches at the age of fifteen. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music with an emphasis in Performance from Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana, and is currently completing the final requirements for his Master of Music in Choral Conducting at California State University, Los Angeles. As a singer, Andy has performed on stages throughout the United States and internationally in Norway, Finland, Sweden, Russia, and Ireland. His performance highlights include singing at Carnegie Hall under the direction of Greg Gilpin; appearing as a soloist on the flight deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt for the U.S. Navy’s Pride celebration; and performing for the San Diego Padres, recording new lyrics to “Jingle Bells” as part of a promotional quartet. Andy has also performed with the Indianapolis Opera Chorus, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, the Indianapolis Men’s Chorus, and numerous other ensembles throughout Indiana. In 2016, Andy relocated to San Diego, where he joined the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus (SDGMC). During his time with the organization, he served in many roles, including singer, dancer, soloist, small group member, Section Leader, Outreach Director, Artistic Manager, and ultimately Interim Artistic Director, conducting two successful concert seasons. While in San Diego, Andy also served as Director of Music for Pioneer Ocean View United Church of Christ and conducted the Voices of Our City Choir, a choir for individuals experiencing homelessness. Voices of Our City Choir gained national attention on America’s Got Talent, where they received Terry Crews’s Golden Buzzer and advanced to the semifinals. Andy returned to Indianapolis in March 2023 and has since remained an active performer and music director throughout the city. His recent work includes singing backup for acclaimed soprano Angela Brown, presenting his one-man show Showtunes with Andy, performing in multiple productions with Indianapolis Opera, and music- and vocal-directing several musicals. Andy worked on production for Yuletide with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and recently founded Indianapolis ROCKS, a community choir through Encore Creativity for Older Adults. Andy has taught voice lessons for over 20 years now and has continued to study the pedagogical changes that have taken place in the field over these years. Working with singers to find healthy techniques that does not take away from the storytelling aspect of performance has been his niche. Andy is the recipient of an Encore Award for Best Vocal Director for his work on Caroline, or Change, and was also nominated for a BroadwayWorld Award for the same production. Deeply committed to equity and inclusion, Andy strives to create safe, welcoming spaces where people from marginalized communities can make music at the highest level. This mission lies at the heart of his artistic work.

The Rosie Awards Workshops

By The MRA Foundation

The Rosie Awards Workshops

Building Confidence, Creativity, and Character