Andrew Ross

Andrew is a Musical Director, Creative Director, Conductor, Teacher, Vocal Coach, Actor, Writer and Mentor and has worked across all facets of the performing arts both in Australia and internationally.

​Andrew studied Acting at NIDA in 1984 and then, from 1988 to 1992, he was the resident singing teacher and music director at NIDA returning again as Head of Music from 2010 until 2021.

In 2001 Andrew was the Singing Coach and On Set Musical Director for Baz Luhrmann’s film Moulin Rouge!, a position that led to an ongoing collaboration with Nicole Kidman on the duet Somethin’ Stupid with Robbie Williams, and the films Cold Mountain and Nine.

 Andrew has enjoyed a long association with Barry Humphries, beginning as Musical Director for the Australasian tour of Look at Me When I’m Talking to You in 1993, which went on to tour Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He again joined Mr Humphries on stage for Remember You’re Out in 1999 and continued on to New York for the Broadway season Dame Edna: The Royal Tour which won a Tony Award in 2001. Andrew wrote material and performed with Mr Humphries on his national tour of Back To My Roots. He also co-wrote the hit Broadway show Dame Edna: Back with a Vengeance, which received a Tony® Award nomination and the Australian and UK West End seasons of Eat, Pray, Laugh. Most recently, Andrew co-wrote Barry Humphries: The Man Behind The Mask and was Creative Director on Dame Edna: My Gorgeous Life.

Andrew has worked for most of the State Theatre companies and toured nationally as Manny (the Accompanist) in Master Class opposite both Robyn Nevin and Amanda Muggleton. He was assistant conductor/repetiteur for Cameron Mackintosh’s Sydney production of Miss Saigon, Musical Supervisor on the New Zealand tour of Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story and Musical Director for The Venetian Twins (GFO/QTC) directed by John Bell. Andrew was Musical Director for The End Of The Rainbow starring Caroline O’Connor as Judy Garland in Sydney, Melbourne and The Edinburgh Festival. Other shows as Musical Director or Musical Supervisor include Assassins, Sunday In The Park With George, The Light In The Piazza, Woyzeck, Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown, Next To Normal and he co-created Stranger I Am with Craig Ilott, iOTA and Caitlin Park.

As an accompanist, Andrew has played with many artists in concert and cabaret, both in Australia and New York, including Rachael Beck, Simon Burke, Dale Burridge, David Campbell, Michael Cormick, Peter Cousens, Maggie Dence, Tim Draxl, Stephen Fry, Nancye Hayes, Hugh Jackman, Maree Johnson, Maggie Kirkpatrick, Toni Lamond, Hugh Laurie, Genevieve Lemon, Caroline O’Connor, Philip Quast and Emma Thompson.