Andrea Vonk

Andrea was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1980. From 1998 until 2002 she studied trumpet with Dr.Keith Benjamin at the University of Missouri-Kansas City where she was a finalist in the UMKC Concerto Competitions in 1999 and 2000. She was also a finalist at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp Staff Concerto Competition in 2001, the Naftzger Young Artist Competition in Wichita, KS in 2001, and at the WAMSO Young Artist Competition in Minneapolis, MN in 2000, 2001, and 2003.

After graduating from the University of Missouri-Kansas City she was accepted as a member and Co-Principal for the 2002 - 2003 season with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. There she had the opportunity to work with many renown conductors, such as Sir Andrew Davis of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, as well as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's artistic director, Daniel Barenboim. In summer 2003 Andrea travelled to Japan as a member of the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra Academy. The academy members were taught by the section leaders of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and conductors included Bernard Haitink and Edo De Waart.

After returning to Chicago Andrea was accepted as a graduate student at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL and studied with Professor Barbara Butler and Professor Charles Geyer. Apart from being a member of the Alloy Arts Ensemble, she also plays 2nd trumpet with the West Shore Symphony Orchestra in Michigan, and works as a freelance musician in and around Chicago.