For Cardinal Gibbons Orchestra director Andy Hawks, music is his greatest passion.
“Teaching is neat for me,” Hawks said. “I take what I’ve learned, and I get to share it with people and give them the gift of my knowledge.”
Growing up in Raleigh, Hawks picked up the double bass in sixth grade and went on to play in high school. Hawks earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Double Bass Performance from UNC-Greensboro. During that time, he explored jazz, classical music, and played the electric bass with rock bands.
Hawks then went on to earn a Master’s in Double Bass Performance from Michigan State University. He stayed in Michigan after graduation and began playing for local orchestras in the Midwest.
Hawks had his first major break when he won the audition for Principal Bass of the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra. From there, he went on to play for the Kalamazoo Symphony, the Lansing Symphony as Assistant Principal Bass, the Western Michigan Orchestra, the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, and the Omaha Symphony in Nebraska. He also earned a coveted spot on the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s substitute list.
Hawks’ summers were just as busy. He performed at festivals in Sicily, Italy, and Canada, and spent 11 weeks with the Ohio Light Opera, playing roughly 90 performances in a single season. All the while, Hawks was an adjunct professor at Spring Arbor University in Michigan and was teaching private lessons to college students.
For Hawks, teaching is a challenge he enjoys. It is his mission to adjust to each student’s unique learning style and support them in the best way he can.
After years of living in the Midwest, Hawks decided to return to North Carolina to be closer to family. His first job back was at a guitar store, and soon after, he began working with a company that sent him to schools to work with band programs and directors. One of those schools was Cardinal Gibbons.
He started visiting Gibbons every Thursday, when the school’s orchestra was just a small ensemble. The more time he spent here, the more he realized how special the community was.
“I never thought I would be a teacher,” Hawks said. “Gibbons really is exceptional. When it comes to the students, the facilities, the staff, and the support of the admin, I don’t think anything really comes close to that. If I ever pictured myself as a teacher, it would have to be in a place like this.”
Two years ago, Mr. Hawks was recognized as Teacher of the Year.
Today, Hawks says his favorite moments are the simple ones: students stopping by the orchestra room just to talk, joke around, or ask questions. For him, teaching is all about seeing students engaged, building relationships, and sharing the joy of music.
“I love when kids come to hang out on their own accord,” Hawks said.
