Deena Rizkalla Andrews is an enthusiastic educator and performer who looks to bridge cultural gaps and forge friendships by playing and exploring different styles of music. Growing up in a suburb of Washington, D.C., Deena began playing the violin in her elementary school music program. Participating in school orchestras from an early age inspired her to go on to become a music educator herself, and graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. After graduating, she stayed local and began teaching strings in Title I schools before joining the cast of Barrage 8, a show that combines singing and dancing with playing multi-genre music on string instruments.
Since arriving to Nashville, Deena has been active in the recording industry, working on projects for Koji Kondo, Yoshihiro Ike, Blake Neely (Greyhound, Masters of the Air), Bungie, Disney, Tommee Profitt, Jordan St. Cyr, and Karen Elson, among others. She has also had the privilege of performing with many wonderful and iconic groups and shows, including Mannheim Steamroller, 2Cellos, Michael Bublé, Cody Fry, Ben Rector, Cory Wong, Lolo, and the Hello Dolly and Phantom of the Opera National Tours, as well as numerous local musical theater productions. Most recently, she just completed the 2022 Drummer Boy Christmas Tour with for King and Country, and can be seen on CMT's Crossroads with For King and Country and Jimmie Allen.
Deena also holds a Masters degree in instrumental performance from Belmont University, where she was also the Graduate Student Award recipient.
Her latest project, Winterbirds, is a powerful take on progressive folk. Their current album, Shaker Songs, weaves the poetry of the American Shakers into a compelling exploration of the tensions between humility, self-expression, and love.
Since arriving to Nashville, Deena has been active in the recording industry, working on projects for Koji Kondo, Yoshihiro Ike, Blake Neely (Greyhound, Masters of the Air), Bungie, Disney, Tommee Profitt, Jordan St. Cyr, and Karen Elson, among others. She has also had the privilege of performing with many wonderful and iconic groups and shows, including Mannheim Steamroller, 2Cellos, Michael Bublé, Cody Fry, Ben Rector, Cory Wong, Lolo, and the Hello Dolly and Phantom of the Opera National Tours, as well as numerous local musical theater productions. Most recently, she just completed the 2022 Drummer Boy Christmas Tour with for King and Country, and can be seen on CMT's Crossroads with For King and Country and Jimmie Allen.
Deena also holds a Masters degree in instrumental performance from Belmont University, where she was also the Graduate Student Award recipient.
Her latest project, Winterbirds, is a powerful take on progressive folk. Their current album, Shaker Songs, weaves the poetry of the American Shakers into a compelling exploration of the tensions between humility, self-expression, and love.
