Andrea Keller was born in Sydney, Australia of Czech parents in 1973. She started piano lessons at the age of seven and continued studying through her high school years at the NSW State Conservatorium of Music High School.
Convinced from a young age that she would make a career in classical music, her aspirations took a different direction after she discovered jazz at the age of 14.
After receiving her A.Mus.a with Distinction on piano, Andrea attended the University of Wollongong, Bachelor of Creative Arts majoring in composition. She continued her studies at the Victorian College of the Arts where she graduated with a Bachelor of Music Performance in Improvisation in 1995. Upon completion of this degree she was invited to join the staff at the VCA where she continues to teach.
Andrea has performed with Australian jazz greats such as Allan Browne, Barry Duggan, Sandy Evans, Dale Barlow and Brian Brown. She is a member of contemporary ensembles ‘Keller/Murphy/Browne’,Jamie Oehler’s ‘Small World Ensemble’, the Geoff Hughes Collective, Tim Wilson/Andrea Keller duo, and the Bennetts Lane Big Band (an 11-piece ensemble which performs the ecclectic compositions of it's members).
Her performance experience encompasses all major Australian jazz festivals including the Melbourne International Jazz Festival (VIC), Wangarratta Festival of Jazz (VIC), the Melbourne Women’s International Jazz Festival (VIC), the Apollo Bay Music Festival (VIC), the Fremantle Jazz Festival (WA), the Perth International Arts Festival (WA), the Pinnacles Music Festival (QLD) and the Jazz:Now Festival (NSW).
Andrea has received commissions from the Melbourne International Women's Jazz Festival, Mike Nock's BigSmallBand and The Australian Art Orchestra. In 2007/2008, she was commissioned to write the music for ‘Hush 8’ in association with the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Freedman Foundation.
In 2001 Andrea was the inaugural winner of the MCA/Freedman Foundation Jazz Fellowship, enabling her to perform throughout the Czech Republic (including Karlovy Vary Jazz Festival), Scotland and Ireland (2002, 2003). In 2006 she performed with the Australian Art Orchestra at the Mt Niseko/Kutchan Jazz Festival (Japan). In 2007 she performed with her quartet at the Moers Festival (Germany), Copenhagen Jazzhouse (Denmark) and in Prague (Czech Republic)
Andrea has released five albums as leader;
'Thirteen Sketches' by The Andrea Keller Quintet. (Winner of the 2002 ARIA Award for Best Jazz Album).
'Mikrokosmos' by Andrea Keller's Bartok Project. (Winner of the 2003 Bell Award for Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album and the 2003 ARIA Award for Best Jazz Album).
'Angels and Rascals' by The Andrea Keller Quartet. (Nominated for Best Jazz Album at the 2005 ARIA Awards).
'Little Claps' by The Andrea Keller Quartet. (Winner of the 2008 Bell Award for Best Australian Contemporary Jazz Album)
'Footprints' the Wayne Shorter Project. Andrea Keller solo piano and nord.
Currently living in Melbourne, Australia, Andrea continues to lead an active performing, teaching and composing life.