At the young age of sixteen Andy finished second in the world championship mandolin contest in Winfield, Kansas.Fast forward a few years. Andy's curiosity and appreciation for music drew him into the world of electric guitars. The new instrument was familiar due to his experience with acoustic instruments, but at the same time, allowed him to manipulate his sound in ways never before possible. He began studying the styles of Nashville session players such as Brent Mason and Albert Lee.It was not long before Andy had immersed himself in new styles such as jazz, swing, fusion, and rock. Andy began to study other guitar greats such as The Dixie Dregs, Eric Johnson, Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, and Steve Vai. Shortly after, the young guitarist began incorporating their influences into his own style.At the age of 22, Andy was drawn back to competition in the form of Guitarmagedon, a guitar contest sponsored by guitar center. Andy was a face in the crowd of 3,400 other contestants, but he quickly made his presence known as he began to rip through complex notes that had top level musicians dropping their jaws. more... See more text