Interview: Andy Huber, CMC Senior Staff Accountant
Over the summer, we welcomed a new member to the CMC community. Andy Huber started as Senior Staff Accountant in July. Like so many staff, in addition to being a nonprofit professional, he’s also a wonderful musician. If you see Andy around the building say “Hi!”
What’s your background?
I went to school for Music Education and Acting focusing on voice, choir teaching, and conducting. While I was an undergrad, I interned at Michigan State University Community Music Center. That’s where I became familiar with the administrative side of community music schools. In the last semester of my undergrad, I student taught a middle school choir. I learned to value educators, but decided not to pursue music education as a career. I moved to New York, and after a quick stint as an intern at a classical music artist PR firm, started out as a registrar at Turtle Bay Music School in New York, which is a community music school similar to CMC. From there, I got an “on the job” education in community music organizational life. I learned business management from a colleague who mentored me, becoming the Business Manager of Turtle Bay, managing all financial, accounting and human resources functions.
How did you first come to CMC?
After being at Turtle Bay Music School for five years, I was looking forward to something new and to expand my horizons. It was an exciting step to move from New York to the Bay Area.
What are you passionate about in your work?
I’ve been a both a musician and a music student. I value paying musicians, and I like that my job is paying musicians on a regular basis. The fact that CMC is a place that provides a livelihood for musicians and is a place for people to learn music is something I take pride in.
One of the other things I feel passionately about is working at a vibrant center for people to receive a music education, when the arts often don’t exist in the classroom. Cities need a resource like CMC to provide an arts education, where it otherwise might not be accessible.
How is going so far?
After being in Michigan and then New York, the Bay Area weather is consistent, which I like. The amount of programming and assistance CMC provides says a lot about what’s at the heart of this organization. The fact that CMC works very hard to provide both quality programming and tuition assistance is great.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to jog. I love eating interesting cuisine. I live in Berkeley, which is optimal for eating out. I like to play video games. I listen to a lot of podcasts and NPR. My favorite podcasts are the Vergecast, The Brian Lehrer show on WNYC, and Spilled Milk where comedians talk about food. Very funny!