Andrew François

Born and raised in Kankakee, Illinois, violist Andrew François began his musical studies at the age of 10 on violin in his school’s string program. He joined the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra viola section in September 2019.

As a chamber musician and soloist, François has given recitals throughout the United States and Europe. He also served as artist faculty with the Anchorage Chamber Music Festival. As an avid orchestral player, Francois has played and served as principal with the Verbier Festival Orchestra, the Spoleto Festival Orchestra, New World Symphony Orchestra, and was in the inaugural class of fellows with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Resident Fellows program.

François has received Artistic Excellence Fellowships from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University as well as Illinois State University. He enjoys teaching and community outreach, and has traveled to Medellin, Colombia, to teach master classes and lessons at Eafit Universidad. While an undergraduate student, he was a Teaching Assistant and private instructor at Illinois State University in its String Project program. As a graduate of the Jacobs School of music, studying under string department chair Stephen Wyrczynski, François held the title of Graduate Assistant for the string department, as well as at on the Jacobs School of Music Council as a Graduate representative.

In his spare time, François enjoys playing tennis and practicing yoga.