Degrees:
- MM 2018, Wind Conducting, Ithaca College
- BA 2007, Music, University of Connecticut
- BS 2007, Education, University of Connecticut
2024-2025 Engagements:
- Oswego All-County Middle and High School Honor Band - January 2025
- ASBDA (CT) Honor Band Festival - November 2024
- Guest Clinician: New Rochelle High School Bands - May 2024
- Tioga (NY) Junior High All-County Band - March 2024
- Putnam County (NY) Junior High All-County Band - February 2024
*** Professor Burgess is available for guest conducting engagements, school clinics, professional development sessions, and consulting. Please reach out (aburgess@ithaca.edu) at any time to share your ideas and plan a collaboration! I look forward to engaging with students and colleagues beyond the Ithaca College community!
Spring 2024 Courses:
- Wind Pedagogy (MUED 37500)
- Brass Methods (MUED 23000)
- Supervisor, Junior Student Teaching (MUED 37100)
Additional Courses Taught:
- Band Techniques (MUED 21100)
- Brass Class (PFSM 35100)
- Band Rehearsal Lab (MUED 38100)
- Laboratory Band (MUED 35600)
- Materials and Rehearsal Techniques for Band (MUED 44000)
- Teaching Instrumental Music (MUED 36200)
- Contemporary Ensembles in the Public Schools (MUED 28100)
- Current Topics in Music Education - Career Orientation (MUED 20200)
- Class Trombone (PFSM 13500)
- Supervisor, Senior Student Teaching
- Brass instrument proficiency juror
- Conductor, Ithaca College Trombone Troupe (MUEN 12400/62400)
- Conductor, Ithaca College Symphonic Band
Aaron S. Burgess is a dynamic conductor and music educator with close ties to the collegiate, public school, and community music arenas. He has been lauded for his exuberant and evocative performances and his collaborative approach to ensemble music making and administration. Mr. Burgess is assistant professor of music education at Ithaca College where he teaches courses in instrumental music education and supervises student teachers. Additionally, he is music director of the Ithaca Community Orchestra and resident conductor of the Ithaca New Music Collective.
Mr. Burgess has collaborated from the podium with many artists and composers including trombonist Peter Steiner formerly of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Vienna State Opera, Timothy Smith of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, composers Nathan Tanouye, Dana Wilson, Sally Lamb McCune, Jess Langston Turner, Eric Ewazen, Lewis J. Buckley, Kenneth Fuchs and Joshua Oxford, alto saxophonist Greg Case of the U.S. Coast Guard Band, trumpeter Louis Hanzlik of the American Brass Quintet, flutist Barbara Hopkins of the Hartford (CT) Symphony Orchestra, and numerous faculty in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance at Ithaca College. He has commissioned and premiered many new works for winds, strings, and percussion, guest conducted a wide array of ensembles and honor bands, and presented on topics pertaining to conducting and instrumental music education.
His work in recent years includes appointments as conductor and advisor of the acclaimed Ithaca College Trombone Troupe, director of bands in the Southern Cayuga Central Schools (NY) and junior high band director in the Trumansburg Central School District (NY), conductor of the Ithaca College Symphonic Band, as well as numerous guest appearances with the wind bands of Ithaca College. From 2010 until 2015, he served as director of bands at Edwin O. Smith High School (CT). In 2014, he was appointed an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Music at the University of Connecticut where he taught woodwind methods and guest lectured on topics pertaining to secondary instrumental music education. During the summers of 2008 and 2009, he served as music director and conductor of the Connecticut Wind Ensemble, an ensemble of professional and collegiate musicians. From 2007 until 2010, he was director of bands at Rocky Hill High School, Myrtle Stevens Elementary School, and West Hill Elementary School (CT). His work as a public school music educator includes ensemble and instrumental instruction at all grade levels, elective music courses, competitive marching band, and music program administration.
Mr. Burgess is a member of several professional and honor organizations and has held numerous leadership roles in the Connecticut Music Educators Association including co-chair of the Connecticut All-State Festival. He holds a Master of Music in wind conducting from Ithaca College and a Bachelor of Arts in music and a Bachelor of Science in music education from the University of Connecticut.