Person Type: Musician

Andy Einhorn

Leading Broadway music director and conductor, Andy Einhorn, most recently served as the
music supervisor and musical director for the Broadway productions of Hello, Dolly! starring
Bette Midler (Grammy nom, OBCR) and Carousel starring Renée Fleming (Grammy nom, OBCR.)
Einhorn’s previous Broadway music directing and conducting credits include Holiday Inn, Woody
Allen’s Bullets Over Broadway, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Brief Encounter,
and Sondheim on Sondheim. Other Broadway work includes Evita and The Light in the Piazza.

Since 2011, Einhorn has served as music director and pianist for six-time Tony Award winner,
Audra McDonald, performing with her at such prestigious orchestras and venues including The
New York Philharmonic, Boston Pops at Tanglewood, Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco
Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom, Cincinnati Pops,
Chicago Symphony at Ravinia, Los Angeles Opera, Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall and a
series of recorded concerts with Sydney Symphony at the Sydney Opera House in Australia. He
most recently made his debut at New York City Center. They have recorded two albums
together: “Sing Happy: Live with the New York Philharmonic” and “Go Back Home.”

He served as the music director for HBO’s Peabody Award winning documentary “Six by
Sondheim” and music supervisor for Great Performances Peabody Award winning special
“Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy” on PBS. In 2019, Einhorn conducted Bette Midler and
Marc Shaiman at the 2019 Academy Awards. He also music supervised and appeared on camera
for the Emmy award winning performance of “Eat Sh*t Bob” for HBO’s LAST WEEK TONIGHT
starring John Oliver. Upcoming film and TV projects include: Apple Plus’ EXTRAPOLATIONS and
CABRINI (producer Jonathan Sanger.)

Recently, he has conducted concerts with Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre
Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Pacific Symphony, Cleveland
Orchestra, and Aspen Music Festival. He is a guest faculty member at the Aspen Music Festival
and is a regular music director and pianist for the 92nd St Y’s Lyrics and Lyricists series.

Andy Einhorn is an honors graduate of Rice University in Houston, Texas.

William Kurk

William Kurk is a diverse and in-demand piano and synthesizer afficiando, music director, band leader, composer, and recording artist. Chicago Theatre credits include Music Directing Sarafina (Black Theatre Alliance Award nomination), Once On This Island, Ragtime, Hair, Runaways, Godspell, Nefertiti, The Wiz, and Cabaret. He also music directs several concerts in theaters nationwide with Artists Lounge Live. Kurk has toured with popular acts including The Dells, Marvelettes, Platters, and Coasters, and accompanied an array of notable artists including Dionne Warwick, Melba Moore, Martha Reeves, Koko Taylor, Andre DeShields, Taylor Dane, Chico DeBarge, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, KRS-ONE, Kool Moe Dee, Michelle Williams, Ronnie DeVoe, and Bill Cosby. As a recording artist, Kurk has released seven full-length albums, including The Sound: Volumes 1,2, & 3, Pop Fusion, Super Pop Fusion, Legacy, and Willionaire. He founded the band William Kurk Enterprise and is also a member Chicago wedding/corporate band Lakeshore Encores. Kurk is the host of web series Synth Sounds Of and the documentary Electric Rhythm for Reverb.com. He is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a BM in Composition. williamkurk.com

John Williams II

JS (he/him) is a trumpeter/trombonist/composer/educator born and raised in New York City. He matriculated at LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts, The New School, and earned a Master’s degree from CUNY. He has studied music from world reknown musicians and educators to include: Ed Truetel, Jimmy Owens, Michael Mossman. This training prepared him to share the stage with Living Colour, Les Nubians, Winard Harper, Marc Cary and many others. JS is currently performing with George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic.

Ryan Sands

Hailing from Orange, CT, Ryan Sands is a passionate, energetic drummer on the rise. Ryan’s musical journey started at the age of 4 with Jesse Hameen II at Neighborhood Music School. Through Hameen’s 14 years of mentorship Ryan managed to go All State, summer Jazz intensives in Amherst, Massachusetts and attend both Educational Center of The Arts during the 2009-2010 school year and Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Division from 2010-2012. Ryan attended New England Conservatory and graduated with BA in Jazz Performance. For graduate school Ryan attended Manhattan School of Music and graduated with a Master’s in Jazz Arts.

As a performer Ryan has performed domestically and internationally in Boston, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Prague, London, Shanghai, and Italy to name a few. He’s had the pleasure of sharing the stage with the likes of Geoffrey Keezer, Wayne Escoffrey, Tamir Hendleman, Jeremy Pelt, Jimmy Bruno, and Phil Markowitz. Ryan serves as a rotating member of the critically acclaimed Christian Sands Trio for the past 8 years. He’s also a part of the New York based music collective, Altus, where he serves as the primary drummer.

As an educator, Ryan has worked as a private drum instructor for Neighborhood Music School and served as an Assistant Teacher, clinician and combo coach for Neighborhood Music School’s Summer Jazz Camp since 2011. Ryan worked as an Assistant Teacher at New England Conservatory’s Jazz Lab. Recently Ryan taught at a local music school in Shanghai at iSchool of Music and Art.

Currently, Ryan moved back to the US and is now working on his debut album, Standing On The Edge of Tomorrow, which was released on April 8, 2022.

He’s a proud endorser of Canopus Drums and Paiste Cymbals.

Bernell Jones II

Originally from Memphis, TN, Bernell Jones II is an NYC-based multi-instrumentalist experienced in multiple forms of Black American Music. At age ten, Bernell first picked up his primary instrument, the saxophone. This was a huge turning point in his life. However, his musical journey began at age six when he began playing piano. Although he doesn’t consider himself a professional pianist, it aided him in enhancing his compositional skills and his understanding of music. His compositions showcase a variety of musical influences from his upbringing such as gospel, jazz, blues, r&b, etc. He has worked with artists such as Ms. Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Philip Harper, Eric Bellinger, and more. He credits his style of playing to his teachers and mentors Greg Tardy and Vincent Herring. Bernell is currently an artist for P. Mauriat instruments with a saxophone endorsement.

Donavan Austin

Donavan Austin is a trombonist, composer, arranger, and educator who appreciates the culture of jazz and is dedicated to keeping said tradition alive. Originally from Pennsylvania, Donavan has quickly and seamlessly begun to make his mark on the New York City jazz scene as well as the music scene as a whole. He has performed with a variety of musical artists, including Samara Joy, the Birdland Big Band, Pete Malinverni, and others. With many musical projects coming to the bandstand down the line, a post-COVID world should see him as a driving force in the music of jazz.