Percussionist
Educator
Advocate
As an LGBTQIA+ identifying musician and educator, my goal is to use music as a vehicle through which students can find community that helps support their unique identities.
Mission Statement
Biography
Andrew Kinsey is a senior at Northern Illinois University, double majoring in Music Education and Percussion Performance. Growing up with many musical educators in his family, Andrew has always been surrounded by many different styles of music. As he grew up, he started to discover his own passion for music playing drumset through classic rock, gospel, and jazz bands. Now, Andrew honors his family tradition by playing classical percussion, steel pan and jazz drumset, as well as sharing the gift of music with his students. Currently, Andrew is a percussion instructor at Metea Valley High School, teaches private lessons, and has lead clinics for the elementary, middle, and high school level for percussion. Advocacy
Andrew identifies as a gay transgender male who uses he/him/his pronouns. Coming out as transgender in 2017, he began his journey in living his most authentic life. Ever since coming out and feeling more comfortable in his own skin, he has been very open to sharing his personal experiences in hopes to help others who might be going through similar experiences as he went through. Andrew has been able to help guide younger LGBTQIA+ students at schools such as Jane Addams Jr. High School by presenting to their Pride Alliance club since 2021.
