Andrew received his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, where he was a pupil of James Preiss and Fred D. Hinger. In 1983 he was appointed solo timpanist of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra in Oslo, Norway, a position he held until his return to the United States in 1998. In his long career, Mr. Simco has served as principal timpanist of eight professional orchestras and held master classes and faculty positions in numerous institutions. Currently he holds a faculty position at Joliet Junior College, and is timpanist for the Des Moines Metro Opera, Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra, and Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra.