Andrew Bird, Lake Forest High School senior photograph from the 1991 Forest Trails yearbook.
Andrew Bird (third row, third from left) with the 1990-1991 Lake Forest High School orchestra. Image source: 1991 Forest Trails yearbook.
Internationally acclaimed musician Andrew Bird was born in Lake Forest in 1973. He’s a 1991 graduate of Lake Forest High School who first picked up the violin at the age of 4. Bird’s music has a distinctly American sound, complex and orchestral, reflecting his years of classical training and study at Northwestern University. Always open to experimentation, Bird searches for new ways to make music. He is known for his signature whistling combined with his virtuoso violin playing layered with folksy guitar.
Andrew Bird started his career as a member of the band “Squirrel Nut Zipper’s.” Early work includes three albums with his second band “Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire.” Since then, he has pursued a solo career and released an additional 10 albums. Bird has recorded with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and headlined concerts at Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House and festivals worldwide.