Andrew Picken (B.A. University of California at Los Angeles, M.M. Northwestern University)  teaches violin and viola at the Colburn School in Los Angeles and Pasadena Conservatory of Music. Since 2010 he has been Principal Viola of the Pasadena Symphony, and served as Associate Principal Viola of the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra for 15 years. He has also served as Principal Violist of the Long Beach Symphony, the Glendale Symphony and the Los Angeles Baroque Orchestra.

He is Associate Principal Violist of the Los Angeles Master Choral Orchestra and has been a member of many Southern California ensembles including the Los Angeles Mozart Orchestra, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Santa Barbara Symphony, and Pacific Symphony Orchestra. He has also lent his talents to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Oregon Bach Festival and the Nevada Chamber Music Festival.

He can also be heard on hundreds of Hollywood sound tracks. A dedicated pedagogue, Andrew has helped many students to realize their goals on the viola. His students have matriculated into many of the top music schools in the country including Juliard, Oberlin, New England Conservatory, Boston University, Colburn Conservatory, and USC. A founding member of the Pasadena String Quartet, Andrew has performed at the Music Guild concert series in Belair as well as at venues throughout Southern California. In addition, he has performed as a guest artist with the Lafayette string quartet, the Felici Piano Trio and the Henchel String Quartet with Lynn Harrell.

As a conductor, he has lead the orchestras at the Rocky Ridge Music Festival in Estes Park, Colorado, as well as here in California.