Andrew comes from Northern Ireland but spent the latter part of his education in Manchester, where he studied at Chetham’s School of Music, followed by his first degree, specialising in performance and euphonium, with Steven Mead at the RNCM. During his time in Manchester he was fortunate to be a member of some of Britain’s leading Brass Bands, including Leyland and YBS, winning the European Brass Band Championships in 2002. After graduating Andrew joined the British Army as a euphonium player in 2003, with the aspiration of following in Major Peter Parkes’ and Lt Col Frank Renton’s footsteps - to become a Director of Music. As a musician he has had a full and varied career, winning many awards along the way. He has toured the world with the Army, and as a soloist he has performed with the United States Army Band Pershing’s Own, in Washington DC. Andrew eventually attended the Student Bandmaster Course at Kneller Hall and upon completion in 2011 received awards for academic excellence and conducting. As a Bandmaster he had a series of appointments including seeing active service in a 9 month deployment to Afghanistan. He also spent a very memorable four years as Bandmaster of the Band of the Irish Guards and 18 months within the Household Division Bands Headquarters as a Staff Officer. Andrew promoted to Director of Music in 2021 with British Army Band Tidworth and flourished, designing shows for the FA Cup Final working in tandem with the BBC and DJ Jeremiah Asiamah, to the British Grand Prix and establishing the current relationship between the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and British Army Music. Captain Porter is now at the tip of the spear in Army Music and State Ceremonial delivery and is honoured to be the Director of Music to the prestigious Grenadier Guards. Andrew has delivered the Freedom of Manchester Parade, a Liberation Tour of Belgium and the Netherlands and several State Visits and Guards of Honour for Presidents Macron; Trump; Zelensky; Steinmeier; and the Aga Khan. Andrew and the band have also been working closely with the composer Peter Graham who has composed and dedicated a composition to Andrew and the Grenadiers. In his own time Andrew enjoys working with and helping develop brass bands in their outputs and in collaborative projects. From 2020 – 2025 he developed Morecambe Band from non-contesting to a top 5 finish in the Second Section at the North West Area, including 3 consecutive years at the National Finals along the way. Andrew now works regularly with world famous brass bands Fairey’s and Wingates. His innovative approach to music making, collaboration, inclusion and concert programming, is part of his wider philosophy and an important element in engaging with all aspects of the Community. Andrew is married to Carol, herself a flugel horn player and musician in Wingates Band, and they have 3 children, James, Ruby and Aoife.