Andrew Lay

 

Andrew Lay is the music and Spanish teacher at Indiana Academy, where he has been since 1996, a record in music teaching at IA. The school, which is over a century old, has had 42 teachers, with the longest service before Lay's being seven years, a tenure claimed by both Harold Doering and Ben Purvis.

In Lay's time at IA, the band has been reestablished and funds for a bell choir were raised. In 1998, the music department moved to new quarters, a renovated older building on campus. The facility includes a small and large rehearsal area, music libraries, practice rooms, and a 400-seat auditorium. Keyboard instruments include 15 pianos and 2 organs, including a Kimball pipe organ situated in the gymnasium.

In Lay's first decade at IA, at least 50% of the student body has participated in music every year. He also started a series of music festivals for grade 6-10 students, sponsored by the academy and Indiana Conference and led by guest clinicians. These have been a key part of recruitment for the academy.

Lay completed a B.M. in music education at Atlantic Union College and an M.Mus. at Andrews University in 1997. He taught at Modesto Academy in California before coming to IA in 1996. He is married to Colleen (Thompson). He has been on five Maranatha Trips in Latin and South America.

 

ds 2008