Andres E. Aya is the Director of Percussion for Westbrook Int. & Brookside Int. and the Director of the HCU Drumline were he serves as the Percussion Instructor and Arranger for the Houston Christian University Marching Band.
Recently, the Westbrook percussion ensemble, under the direction of Mr. Aya, was selected to perform at the prestigious Music for All festival in Indianapolis. Previously, Mr. Aya was the Director of Percussion at Stephen F. Austin High School and its feeders. In 2022, the Stephen F. Austin High School Percussion Ensemble was selected as a commended winner in the national percussion ensemble honors for the Mark of Excellence, and in 2020, the ensemble was also selected to perform at the prestigious Midwest Clinic and Convention.
Mr. Aya graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Human Learning from the University of Texas at Austin. During his percussion studies, he studied under George Frock, David Glover, Lisa Nicol, Tony Edwards, and Thomas Burritt. He was a member of the UT Longhorn Band (1999-2001), Wind Ensemble (2000-04), and Percussion Ensemble (1999-2004).
Mr. Aya was a Snare-line member of the World Champion Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps from 2001-03, earning two World Championships. In 2002, he received the bronze medal in the DCI Individual & Ensemble competition with his snare solo, “Palindrome.” He was also a member of the 1999 Texas All-State Band and the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps Snare-line in 1998.
Mr. Aya served as the assistant percussion caption head and snare technician for the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. At the 2017 TMEA convention, he co-presented the first-ever TMEA special needs inclusion strategies clinic. Mr. Aya also served as the Director of Percussion Studies for Alvin High School and Alvin I.S.D. East feeders in Alvin, Texas from 2004-2016.
Currently, Mr. Aya is an Ensemble Block masterclass video Creator & Artists Relations Manager. He is sponsored by Innovative Percussion, Evans Drumheads, and Sabian Cymbals. As an amateur disc golfer, Andres is sponsored by Par 54 Disc Golf and Lone Star Disc where he is part of the Lieutenant Ranger Team. He resides in Missouri City, TX with his wife, Laura and two children, Helen and Thomas.
