March Musician Spotlight - Aaron Jackson, piano

We are very much looking forward to this weekend's concert at Channing Memorial Church and delighted to be joined by Providence-based pianist composer, Aaron Jackson.

Composer and pianist Aaron Jackson offers programs that combine his original compositions and improvisations with selections from the classical repertoire, with an emphasis on music from the 20th century.  His 2012-2013 season featured works by Beethoven, Brahms and Bacewicz; Liszt, Janacek and Dvorak; Babbitt, Lieberson, and Shifrin; Scriabin, Copland and Rautavaara; all in programs that also featured his own music, including the premiere of his Piano Sonata. Recent collaborations include Chroma for jazz trumpeter Ben Holmes; a Trio for  violin, cello, and piano, with musicians Chase Spruill and Adrienne Taylor from Providence’s Community Music Works; and a set of 24 preludes for piano created in conjunction with a corresponding series of paintings by his wife, artist Prachie Narain Jackson, called The Book of Wandering.

Aaron grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, where he discovered the music of local composer Milton Babbitt.  At age 15 he performed several Babbitt pieces at a solo recital of contemporary piano music, which was subsequently repeated at the Juilliard School in New York. Babbitt became a friend and mentor, encouraging Aaron to supplement his studies at Juilliard by working with pianist Robert Taub, who was then artist-in-residence at the Institute of Advanced Study; and to attend Princeton University, where he studied philosophy and music. He went on to study music theory and composition at Columbia University, where he met and became a student of pianist Marilyn Nonken.

More information is available at his website, AaronJacksonMusic.com