Andy Kolar, Assistant Director of Bands, has a variety of education and performance experiences including professional orchestras, drum corps, indoor drum lines, concert percussion ensembles, and wind ensembles/concert bands. He also has taught and developed music programs at the high school and collegiate levels.

Mr. Kolar assists with all instrumental ensembles including marching band, pep band, concert band, jazz band, percussion ensemble, as well as other chamber ensembles. He also teaches private lessons here at SHU.

Before his instruction at Sacred Heart University, Mr. Kolar taught around the Pittsburgh area in many different schools. He taught at the University of Oklahoma while completing his Masters Degree and taught the Magic of Orlando Division I Drum & Bugle corps for their 2006 season. He marched for two years with the Division I Drum & Bugle Corps, Capital Regiment, and also marched for seven years in two WGI (Winter Guard International) percussion ensembles, The Royal Crusaders and Project Percussion. He also has performed with the Allegheny Brass Band, Butler County Symphony Orchestra, & Fort Smith Symphony. He continues to write and arrange music for concert and marching percussion ensembles. He teaches with the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum & Bugle Corps and also has a personal educator endorsement with Vic Firth, Inc.

Mr. Kolar has a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Slippery Rock University where he performed with Dr. David Glover and Kenny Endo, and a Master of Music degree from The University of Oklahoma where he performed with Dr. Lance Drege, She-e Wu, Nathan Daughtrey, and Valerie Naranjo. He is an active member of PAS (Percussive Arts Society) and MENC (The National Association for Music Education).