Saxophonist and Melbourne, Florida, resident Andrew Cleaver has enjoyed a distinguished 37-year career as a professional soloist. His musical journey began as a young U.S. Air Force Band saxophonist after graduating from Florida Southern College in Lakeland. After retiring from the military with 21 years of service plus 15 years working for the U.S. Treasury, Andrew is known locally for his proficiency in educating and inspiring young Melbourne-area saxophonists at his private lesson studio. Andrew also works with several Brevard County schools including Viera, Melbourne, Satellite and Heritage high schools.
Andrew has had the privilege of performing with a wide range of celebrated artists including Karrin Allyson, Paquito D’Rivera, Butch Miles, Louise Mandrell, The Ronettes, Kevin Eubanks, The Beverly Sisters and saxophone master instructor Eugene Rousseau. He also played saxophone on the Grammy Award-winning album, “PDQ Bach: Music for an Awful Lot of Winds and Percussion,” which won Best Comedy Album in 1992.
His military performance tours lead him through 20 countries where he performed for esteemed audiences including England’s Queen Mother, Prime Minister John Major, presidents Ford, Bush, Clinton and Obama as well as several U.S. senators and international dignitaries.
After Andrew enlisted in the Air Force in 1988 and joined the U.S. Air Force Band at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, he transferred to U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band as principal alto saxophonist and lead for the Air Force’s Glenn Miller Band sax section while serving as Drum Major for the Ceremonial Band in 1992.
He transferred to the Air Force Band in Illinois in 1996 before transitioning to a Public Affairs role at the Pentagon in September 2001. In 2003, he moved to The Air Force Band at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., where he served as a public affairs specialist, saxophonist and concert announcer in 2003.
During his tenure, Andrew was assigned to the Air Force’s premier jazz ensemble, The Airmen of Note before retiring in 2009. According to Andrew, “It just doesn’t get any better than that!”
In addition to his musical escapades, Andrew continues to serve in a professional capacity with the Department of Treasury. He also performs with the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, leads the Space Coast Symphony Jazz Orchestra and is a member of the SCSO Sax Quartet and Melbourne’s Space Coast Big Band. Andrew is an active supporter of his wife’s small business and spends his spare time remodeling their home – a project he humorously claims is an endless task.
Andrew plans to retire soon to make more time for the Symphony, to increase his work in the schools, broaden his private lesson work and increase his dealings in collectible and customized wind instruments.