Biography
Having spent the early parts of his career in the Pacific Northwest and the Southern United States, Dr. Aaron Wilson was honored to join the Brandon University School of Music in 2014. Wilson is an active performer in Canada and the United States. He has appeared with several professional ensembles including the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Regina Symphony Orchestra, the Brandon Chamber Players, and the Market Street Brass.
Since coming to Brandon, Wilson has become increasingly involved in performance art and electroacoustic music. In 2018, he began collaborating with Indigenous performance artist, Peter Morin. Their works confront the issues of colonialism from a sonic perspective with the intent of creating new means of reciprocol and inclusive collaboration. In the summer of 2018, they were invited to perform at the “Whose land have I lit on now? Invocations” at the SAVVY Contemporary gallery in Berlin. Their music has also been featured at the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Owens Art Gallery. In 2019, Wilson and local sound artist, Brendon Ehinger, formed a trombone and modular synthesizer duo called Wire and Bone. The ensemble received funding from Brandon University to develop a repertoire of new compositions to take to New Music Festivals and showcase live and online.
An energetic solo artist, Wilson presents recitals regularly across North America. His repertoire selection is highly varied, featuring standards of the trombone repertoire, chamber music selections, and off-the-wall avant-garde pieces. Since coming to Brandon in 2014, Wilson has toured in Europe, Western Canada, the Midwestern United States. In 2019, he was a guest soloist with Posaunenchor Wädenswil, a brass band based in Switzerland. Additionally, Wilson was a featured artist at the 2018 International Trombone Festival in Iowa, where he premiered O Magnum Lux, a piece written by Manitoban composer, Kenley Kristofferson. In March 2020, he was the guest solo artist with the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse Wind Ensemble.
Wilson also has presented several masterclasses at middle schools, high schools, and colleges in Canada and the United States. Specializing in trombone, euphonium, and tuba performance instruction, Wilson’s approach to teaching is anchored in developing healthy playing habits with considerable attention to body awareness and listening skills. He has presented clinics at the Canadian Music Educators’ National Conference, the Manitoba Music Educators Conference, and Brandon’s University’s Avenues: Exploring Band and Jazz Methods workshop. Wilson is also a frequent contributor to the music educator’s journal, Canadian Winds. Additionally, he adjudicated several music festivals in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Wilson earned his Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he studied with Dr. Randy Kohlenberg. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Western Washington University, where he studied with Greg Cox. Wilson is a trombone artist for the Willson Band Instrument Company based in Flums, Switzerland.
Phone: 204-727-9758
Email: wilsona@brandonu.ca