Musician Spotlight: Andrew Hayhurst, cello

Andrew Hayhurst celebrates a decade with the San Diego Symphony this year. Trained at the University of Michigan and Yale School of Music, he has performed with major ensembles including the Los Angeles Opera and LA Phil, recorded in Hollywood’s top studios, and appeared on national broadcasts. An avid tennis player, coder, and longtime volunteer with San Diego Refugee Tutoring—Andrew is an artist whose creativity and commitment extend well beyond the concert hall.

1. Hello Andrew. Please tell us about your musical journey to the San Diego Symphony.  

I started playing the cello when I was six years old, so it’s been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As I grew older, I was inspired by some of the incredible repertoire I encountered through music camps, youth orchestras, and chamber music. From there on out I became increasingly more serious about music. By my senior year in high school, I was driving to the Colburn School of Performing Arts most days for lessons, chamber music, and theory classes. In college, I went on to study at the University of Michigan for my undergraduate degree and at the Yale School of Music for graduate school. Afterwards, I returned to Los Angeles and freelanced while focusing on auditions. Preparing for and taking audition after audition was an intense process, but I was fortunate to have excellent coaches and many willing ears to help me run through audition lists and stay motivated. The night I won my position with the San Diego Symphony was the culmination of years of work and persistence. It was a moment that is forever imprinted in my memory. 

2. This year we celebrate your 10-year anniversary as a member of the orchestra. What are some poignant highlights of your time here so far?  

One concert that stands out was our combined performance of Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony with the Mariinsky Orchestra. Logistics limited our rehearsal time together, but the moment we started playing it was clear they had a profound understanding of the music. The atmosphere onstage was electric, and the intensity of that performance remains one of the most extraordinary musical experiences of my career. 

There have been countless memorable concerts since then, but what also comes to mind is how warmly I was welcomed when I joined the orchestra. From my first week, I felt the strong sense of camaraderie that is a core part of this organization. It’s a tradition I value deeply and one to which I continuously try to contribute. 

3. Your father recently retired from the Los Angeles Philharmonic this past season after a long and stellar career. What, if any musical lessons or influence did you experience coming from a musical family? 

Yes, my dad’s last concert with the LA Phil was this past June, after 40 years with the orchestra. It’s staggering to think how much an orchestra can evolve over the course of a single career, and seeing the arc of his career has given me some perspective into my own. At his final concert, only a few musicians remained from when he had started. The orchestra recognized him before the concert and my whole family was able to attend. But just a few weeks later he actually came out of retirement to sub with the San Diego Symphony for our season opener at The Rady Shell!  

My mom also retired this year from teaching music at elementary schools — she regularly taught 500 students every year! 

Growing up in a musical family certainly shaped how I related to music. My sisters and I all started piano with my mom at a very young age, and I remember wanting to begin cello because my older sister was already playing violin. Our house was always filled with sounds of practicing and teaching, and I often listened to my collection of cassette tapes of the Cleveland Orchestra. We frequently attended concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, the LA Phil’s former home, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and later Walk Disney Concert Hall. 

I greatly benefited from my parents’ guidance as I pursued this unique field, navigating music schools, auditions, and much more. I’ve had many opportunities to play chamber music with them, including a Roussel flute, viola, and cello trio at my senior recital a the University of Michigan. 

4. Looking forward to the future, what concerts are you excited to perform in this season?  

I love playing Brahms symphonies, so performing all four of them as part of our Brahms festival should be a fun challenge. Prokofiev 5 and Bluebeard’s Castle are also pieces I’m excited to play again. 

5. What do you like to do when not performing? How do you spend your free time? 

I’ve lived in North Park ever since I moved to San Diego, and you can often find me taking walks through the neighborhood or reading at one of the many local coffee shops. I also play tennis at the Balboa Tennis Club as often as I can. I enjoy computer programming and am occasionally immersed in a project that claims most of my free time. I’m a fan of chess as well, and lately there seems to be enough interest within the orchestra that I might even try to start a symphony chess club! 

I am also a volunteer with San Diego Refugee Tutoring, a nonprofit in City Heights that provides one-on-one tutoring for refugee students. It’s inspiring to work alongside the people who make this organization possible, and it’s important to me to play a small part in welcoming and supporting the large refugee community we have here in San Diego. 

6. What plans or goals do you have for the next 10 years at the San Diego Symphony?  

I’m excited to see how we can build on the momentum we’ve created with the opening of our two new venues. There is still tremendous potential for building our audiences and discovering new ways to connect with the city