RICE UNIVERSITY’S SHEPHERD SCHOOL OF MUSIC, Houston, TX
Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition, 2009

• Composition studies with Karim Al-Zand, Anthony Brandt, and Shih-Hui Chen
• Secondary Fields: Music Theory and Music History
• Winner of the Cooper Prize for Orchestral Composition
• Dissertation: Everest (for symphony orchestra)
• Special coursework in Theory Pedagogy and Electronic Music

CLEVELAND INSTITUTE OF MUSIC, Cleveland, OH
Master of Music in Composition, 2005

• Composition studies with Orianna Webb

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, Chicago, IL
Bachelor of Arts in Music with Honors, 2003

• Composition studies with Jean Milew and Marta Ptaszynska
• Music theory studies with Thomas Christensen, Richard Cohn, Lawrence Zbikowski, and Yonatan Malin
• Phi Beta Kappa

Composition Master Classes

• William Bolcom (03/25/2006)
• Donald Erb (04/15/2004)
• Eighth Blackbird (01/19/2007)
• John Harbison (10/8/2003)
• Jennifer Higdon (10/6/2004)
• Lee Hyla (01/24/2004)
• Zhou Long (04/15/2005)
• Chen Yi (10/29/2003 and 11/19/2003)

Jazz

• Jazz theory and arranging with Paul Ferguson (Case Western Reserve University)
• Master Class with Marshall Griffith (Nov. 15, 2004)

Lone Star College Training

• Annual HR Training, Lone Star College
• Doing Diversity and Inclusion: It’s Time!, Alma Tusini (2021)
• Quality Matters Training (2019)
• Lone Star College Online Teaching Certification (2017 & 2019)
• LGBTQ+ Safe Zone Training (2019)
• Conflict Resolution Supporting Alternative Dispute Resolution (2016)
• The Honors College – a Faculty Driven Model (2014)

Musical Theatre

• Musical Theatre Collaboration Class, Stuart Ostrow, University of Houston (Fall 2007)
• Musical theatre studies with The Writers’ Workshop, Theatre Building Chicago (2002-2003)

Piano Study

• Gurminder Bhogal (Chicago)
• Judson Billings (Cleveland Institute of Music)

Vocal Study

• Jack Beetle (Houston)
• Andrea Holliday (Chicago)
• Beverley Rinaldi (Cleveland Institute of Music)

LONE STAR COLLEGE-UNIVERSITY PARK (Houston, TX) – 2017-Present
Chair of the Visual & Performing Arts, 2022-Present
Chair of the Performing Arts, 2018-2022
Director of Music, 2017-Present
Professor of Music, 2017-Present

• Courses: Theory I-IV (in person and online), Appreciating Music (including online and hybrid sections), Honors Appreciating Music, Professional Development for Musicians, Class Piano I-IV, Pop Singers
• 2020-2021 Faculty Excellence Award
• 2020 Leo Award Winner in the “Cultivate Community” Category
• 2019 Leo Award Winner in the “No Fear” Category

LONE STAR COLLEGE-CYFAIR (Cypress, TX) – 2012-2017
Professor of Music, 2016-2017
Associate Professor of Music, 2013-2016
Assistant Professor of Music, 2012-2013
Lead Faculty, Department of Music, Drama, and Dance, 2014-2017

• Courses: Theory I-IV, Class Piano I-IV, Professional Development for Musicians, Popular Songwriting I & II, Electronic Music I, Pop Singers, Musical Theatre I & II, Music Fundamentals, Appreciating Music, Honors Appreciating Music, Online Appreciating Music, Honors Special Topics Seminar in Orchestration
• 2014 Distinguished Faculty Member
• 2015-2016 Faculty Excellence Award

WRITESPACE (Houston, TX) – 2016
Faculty

• Lyric Writing Workshops

WOMEN’S INSTITUTE OF HOUSTON (Houston, TX) – 2010-2011
Faculty Lecturer

• American Musical Theatre: Parts I (Fall 2010) and II (Spring 2011)
• Courting the Composers’ Muse: Music and Literature in the Western Canon (Spring 2011)
• Opening Nights: Music’s Great Premieres (Fall 2011)

RICE UNIVERSITY GLASSCOCK SCHOOL OF CONTINUING STUDIES (Houston, TX) – 2009-2010
Instructor

• “From Show Boat to Sondheim: Exploring the Broadway Musical” (Fall 2010)

UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS (Austin, TX) – 2009-2010
Houston “Road Scholar” Faculty

• Designed and taught courses on music theory and history for an international University of Texas continuing education program.

AMERICAN FESTIVAL FOR THE ARTS/AFA (Houston, TX) – 2006-2018
Director of Composition, 2008-2018
Faculty, 2006-2018

• Composition, theory, & elective classes; private composition lessons
• Guest lecture on song writing and composition in outreach programs
• Designed theory placement exam and score-specific theory materials for the theory curriculum

ALVIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE (Alvin, TX) – 2008-2010
Adjunct Faculty

• Private Composition Lessons (MUAP 1291): 2009-2010
• Music Theory III & IV (MUSI 2211-2212): 2008-2010
• Music Theory I & II (MUSI 1211-1212): 2009-2010
• Sight Singing and Ear Training I & II (MUSI 1216-1217): 2009-2010
• Introduction to Music (Fundamentals: MUSI 1301): 2008-2010
• History of Rock ’n’ Roll (MUSI 1310): Spring 2009

RICE UNIVERSITY’S SHEPHERD SCHOOL OF MUSIC (Houston, TX)
Graduate Student Instructor, 2006-2008

• Music Theory for Non-majors (MUSI 317): Fall 2007 and Spring 2008
• Composition for Non-majors (MUSI 307): Fall 2006 and Spring 2007

Preparatory Department Faculty, 2005-2008

• Taught classroom theory and private lessons in composition and theory.

CONFERENCE ORGANIZATION

• Performing Arts Medicine Conference, Conference Organizer
  Lone Star College-University Park, March 21-22, 2020

GUEST LECTURES

• University of Houston (Houston, TX)
  Sept. 21, 2018: Presentation on the Feature Film Musical BULLY
• ApolloCon (Houston, TX)
  June 21, 2015: Guest Lecturer and Panelist on Songwriting
• Wellington Society for the Arts (Houston, TX)
  April 12, 2011: Guest Lecture on American Musical Theatre
• Johnston Middle School (Houston, TX)
  Spring 2011: Semester-long song-writing workshop
• The Rice University Summer Institute for Piano (Houston, TX)
  June 16, 2006: Guest Lecture on Lesser-Known Classical Period Keyboard Composers

HGOco
Houston Grand Opera’s Community Outreach Program, 2010

COMPOSITION MASTER CLASSES

• High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (Houston, TX): March 5, 2007
• American Festival for the Arts (Houston, TX): June 30, 2006
• University of Nebraska at Kearney New Music Festival III (Kearney, NE): March 30, 2004

COMPETITION JUDGING

• Texas State University Annual Student Composition Contest: 2008-Present
• American Festival for the Arts: Young Artists Competition: 2008 and 2009 Contests
• American Festival for the Arts: Concerto Competition: 2008 and 2009 Contests

PANEL PARTICIPATION

• Think Factory: Self-Deception and the Possibility of Truth
  April 30, 2013: Lone Star College-CyFair, Cypress, TX
• Tampa Bay Composers’ Forum, Festival of Living Music
  June 24, 2004: Palladium Theatre, St. Petersburg, FL
• University of Nebraska at Kearney New Music Festival III
  March 30, 2004: University of Nebraska, Kearney, NE

Lone Star College-University Park

• Leo Award: Advance Equity – 2023
• Minnie Stevens Piper Professor Award (College Nominee) – 2021
• Faculty Excellence Award – 2020
• Leo Award: Cultivate Community – 2020
• Leo Award: No Fear – 2019

Lone Star College-CyFair

• Faculty Excellence Award – 2016
• Distinguished Faculty Member – 2014
• Diversity & Inclusion Council Faculty Spotlight – 2014
• Robert McGehee Award for DEI efforts for the LGBTQ community – 2013
• Dr. Cristal Albrecht Dean’s Award (Nominee) – 2013

Alon, Aaron.  “Four Recommendations for the Improvement of Lone Star College.”  The Advocate. Texas: The American Federation of Teachers: Lone Star College Chapter (November-December 2023).

Alon, Aaron.  “When Success Spells Failure.” The Advocate. Texas: The American Federation of Teachers: Lone Star College Chapter (March-April 2019).

Click here for full discography details.

THE CHOSEN ONES (2024 – upcoming)
Musical Theatre | Aaron Alon Productions

MAD! (2024 – upcoming)
Musical Theatre | Aaron Alon Productions

THE GREAT WHITE WAY: THE BERT WILLIAMS MUSICAL (2022)
Musical Theatre | Aaron Alon Productions

BULLY (2019)
Musical Theatre/Film Score | Thunderclap Productions

ASCEND – Includes “Dulce Et Decorum Est” (2017)
Concert Music | Navona Records

HIGHLIGHTS FROM BULLY (2014)
Musical Theatre | Thunderclap Productions

MUSIC OF DIFFERENCE – Iincludes “Hibakusha” (2011)
Concert Music | Beauport Classical

DEATH THE MUSICAL (2011)
Musical Theatre | Thunderclap Productions

SOLILOQUIES – Includes “Hibakusha” (2009)
Concert Music | Capstone Records

HIGH WOOD – Includes “Córdoba” (2008)
Concert Music | Wild Basin Winds

GREETINGS FROM NACUSA – Includes “Spring and Fall” (2005)
Concert Music | National Association of Composers/USA

Aaron Alon’s concert music has been performed in 7 countries on 5 continents and 14 US states, as well as Washington, D.C.

For a list of concert music performances, please click here.

INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

• Fred Ebb Award (2022 finalist)
• Mu Phi Epsilon Composition Contest (2005 & 2009)
• Renée B. Fisher Composer Awards (2007)
• ACME Membership, Mu Phi Epsilon (2005)
• Tampa Bay Composers’ Forum Prize for Excellence in Chamber Music Composition (2005, 2nd Prize)

NATIONAL/REGIONAL AWARDS

• Texas Selection for World Music Days (2016)
• ASCAP/Lotte Lehmann Foundation Art Song Competition (2009, Honorable Mention)
• SCI/ASCAP Student Composition Contest (2005 & 2009, Regional Winner & Finalist)
• National Federation of Music Clubs Emil & Ruth Beyer Awards: Art Song Category (2009, 1st Prize)
• Meet the Composer MetLife Creative Connections Grant (2008)
• ASCAPLUS Awards (2005-2012 & 2014)
• National Federation of Music Clubs Emil & Ruth Beyer Awards: Instrumental Category (2005, 2nd Prize)
• NACUSA (National Association of Composers/USA)  Student Composer Contest (2004, 1st Prize)

Click here for full concert music compositions information.

Soul Flow (2013)
For speaker, flute, clarinet, viola, & cello

Father’s Song (2013)
For bass and piano

Dulce et Decorum Est (2010)
Arrangement for baritone & piano

All Rights Reserved (2010)
For voice and piano

Everest (2009)
For full orchestra

Breaking the Silence (2008)
For soprano and tape

Dulce et Decorum Est (2007)
For baritone & string quartet

Fairy Tales (2005)
For solo piano

Hibakusha (2005-2006)
For solo flute

Peter Pan Suite (2004, rev. 2007)
A ballet for chamber orchestra

Spell (2004)
For violin & two cellos

Córdoba (2004)
For solo oboe

Fantasia (2003)
For solo piano

Spring and Fall (2003)
For medium voice, cello, and piano

Click here for full details on Aaron Alon’s musicals.

The Chosen Ones (2023)
Full-length stage musical

Mad (2020)
Full-length stage musical, cowritten with Russell Sarre

The Great White Way (2020)
Full-length stage musical

Bully (2017)
Feature film musical

Music for Twelfth Night (2012)
Music for a University of St. Thomas production, directed by Justin Doran

Music for The Drunken City (2012)
Music for a Rice University production, directed by Justin Doran

Death, the Musical (2011, rev. 2015)
Full-length stage musical revue, cowritten with a team of writers

Wilde (2011)
Act I for a full-length stage musical (music only)

The Nightingale and the Rose (2007)
A 40-minute stage musical (music only)

Click here for full details on Aaron Alon’s musicals.

Songs Not from Musicals:

You Can Do It (2023)
Song for the Chronic Illness Project

Come to Me (2020)
Communal singing choral piece, cowritten with Alex Berko

SCORES

Dulce Et Decorum Est in The Society of Composers, Inc. Journal of Scores 56 (2017): 5-26.

Hibakusha in The Society of Composers, Inc. Journal of Scores 40 (2008): 11-17.

Hibakusha in 2011 Anthology of Contemporary Concert Music, PARMA.

ARTICLES

Alon, Aaron.  “Finding Gustav Mahler.”  The Triangle of Mu Phi Epsilon 101, no. 1 (2007): 5.

Alon, Aaron.  “Richard Strauss & the Shopkeeper’s Mirror.”  The Triangle of Mu Phi Epsilon 100, no. 2 (2006): 14.

BLOGS

Numerous blogs written on professional development for musicians (musiciandevelopment.com) – full list of blog posts.

MUSIC FOR STUDIES & ARTICLES

Kortum, Philip, S.C. Peres, and Kurt Stallman. “Auditory Progress Bars: Reference, Performance, and Aesthetics.” Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Auditory Display. Montreal, Canada (June 26-29, 2007): Designed the sound stimuli for the experiment.

Schorsch, Ellen.  “The Enchanted World of Piano Fairy Tales.”  Clavier Companion.  New Jersey: Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy (January/February 2012): 30-34. Included excerpts from and discussion of Aaron Alon’s “Fairy Tales” for young pianists.

June 19, 2016
Performance of “Hibakusha”
Laura Patterson, flute
“20th Century Classics”
91.5 WTUL New Orleans

Sept. 15, 2013
Interview & broadcast of excerpts from BULLY
Brad Goertz; Amanda Passanante; Tamara Siler
“After Hours”
90.1 KPFT Houston Pacifica Radio

Aug. 19, 2013
Interview & broadcast of excerpts from BULLY
Amanda Passanante; Brad Goertz
“Queer Voices”
90.1 KPFT Houston Pacifica Radio

Dec. 14, 2012
Performance of “Hibakusha”
Natalie Zeldin, flute
“The Front Row”
88.7 KUHF Houston Public Radio and
91.7 KUHA Houston Classical Radio

June 16, 2012
Performance of “Spell”
Jeff Yang, violin; Alyson Berger, cello; Dan Klingler, cello
“Relevant Tones”
98.7 WFMT Chicago

June 2, 2009
Performance of “Hibakusha”
Catherine Branch, flute
WXXI Rochester Public Radio, Rochester, NY

THE CHOSEN ONES (2023)
Full-length Musical

THE GREAT WHITE WAY: THE BERT WILLIAMS MUSICAL (2020)
Full-length Musical

MAD! (2020)
Full-length Musical

COME TO ME (2020)
Communal Choral Piece, cowritten with Alex Berko

BULLY (2017)
Feature film musical

THE WEIGHT OF GRAVITY (2014)
Lyrics for a Song for the film Mixed Emulsions (MotionArts)

DEATH THE MUSICAL (2011)
Musical Revue, cowritten with a team of writers

Click here for full details on plays, screenplays, and libretti.

THE CHOSEN ONES (2023)
Feature-length Musical

MAD! (2020)
Feature-length Musical

THE GREAT WHITE WAY: THE BERT WILLIAMS MUSICAL (2020)
Feature-length Musical

RIGHT (2020)
Full-length play

BULLY (2017)
Feature film musical

POSITIVE (2015)
Full-length play

DEATH THE MUSICAL (2011)
Musical Revue, cowritten with a team of writers

A FINE ROMANCE (2010)
Full-length screenplay

Click here for full details on sketches and short plays.

Divine Justice (2011)
1-Minute Sketch

Coming Home (2010)
10-Minute Play

Cleanin’ Out My Closet (2010)
10-Minute Play

Vertex (2010)
10-Minute Play

Inquietude (2009)
10-Minute Play

Trapped (2009)
10-Minute Play

The Talk (2009)
10-Minute Play

The Great Storm (2009)
Short Play

Family Portrait (2009)
10-Minute Play

The Chosen Ones (2024 recording, upcoming)
Recording & Audio Engineer | Aaron Alon Productions

Mad! (2024 recording, upcoming)
Recording & Audio Engineer | Aaron Alon Productions

The Great White Way: the Bert Williams Musical (2022 recording)
Recording & Audio Engineer | Aaron Alon Productions

From White Plains (2020 stage play)
Sound Design | Thunderclap Productions

Bully (2019 recording)
Recording & Audio Engineer | Thunderclap Productions

Bully (2017 film)
Recording & Audio Engineer, Sound Design, ADR | Thunderclap Productions

Lyrical Invention (2014 recording)
Recording & Audio Engineer | Lone Star College-CyFair

Rum and Vodka (2012 stage play)
Sound Design | Thunderclap Productions

Death, the Musical (2011 musical revue)
Sound Design | Thunderclap Productions

Pop Singers/Glee Show (2018)
Variety Show | Lone Star College-University Park

Bully (2017)
Film | Thunderclap Productions

A Man of No Importance (2015)
Stage Musical | Lone Star College-CyFair

STOP Project (2014-2015)
PSA-Style Short Films | Lone Star College-CyFair (DOJ Grant Funded)

Pop Singers/Glee Shows (2012-2015)
Variety Shows | Lone Star College-CyFair

The Great Storm (2010)
Stage Short Play Series | Thunderclap Productions

Over 20 performances around the US (including New York, Houston, and San Diego) and in the UK between 2009 and 2016.

For a full list of short plays and their performance histories, click here.

BULLY (2017 feature film)

Over thirty film festivals around the world and over two dozen festival prizes.

Official Selections  |  Awards

IT GETS BETTER (2013 short)

April 26, 2014: Brazos Bend Pride Film Festival official selection.

IMDb

Learn more at Aaron Alon’s IMDb page.

Coming Home

• Official Selection, 10×10 Festival of Short Plays, Scriptwriters/Houston (2011, Houston, TX)

Divine Justice

• Official Selection, Gi60 One Minute Play Festival (2011, West Yorkshire, UK)

Family Portrait (2009)

• Camino Real Playhouse ShowOff!, runner up (2016, San Juan Capistrano, CA)
• Audience Choice Award, Readers’ Theatre, Theatre Southwest (2009, Houston, TX)
• Judges’ Choice Award (2nd place), 10×10 Festival of Short Plays, Scriptwriters/Houston (2009, Houston, TX)
• Official Selection, 10×10 Festival of Short Plays, Scriptwriters/Houston (2009, Houston, TX)

The Great Storm

• Official Selection, 10×10 Festival of Short Plays, Scriptwriters/Houston (2010, Houston, TX)

The Great White Way: the Bert Williams Musical (2020)

• Stanley Drama Awards, finalist (2023, international)

Click here to view Aaron Alon’s YouTube channel, which has had over 9 million views.

• American Federation of Teachers (union member)
• American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP writer/composer and publisher)
• Mu Phi Epsilon (fraternity member & past chapter president)
• Recording Academy/GRAMMYs (voting member)

Tommy Tune Awards (2017-Present)
Adjudicator for the Houston-area high school musical theatre awards
(NB: TTA began paying a small honorarium in 2022)

Thunderclap Productions (2011-Present)
Co-founder and president of the board of directors of a Houston-based theatrical and film production company

University of Chicago Alumni Association (2010-2013)
Alumni interviewer for Houston-area prospective students

Alvin Community College (2009-2010)
Founding faculty sponsor of the GSA and a musical theatre club

Rice University President’s GLBT Council (2007-2009)
On the university president’s advisory council for campus GLBT matters

HATCH (2006-2015)
Volunteer adult facilitator for a biweekly support group for minority teens in Houston

Mu Phi Epsilon (2003-2005)
Collegiate Chapter president at the Cleveland Institute of Music: Awarded the district’s “outstanding collegiate chapter” award, 2004-2005; community outreach included giving volunteer musical performances in cancer centers and retirement homes

Phi Beta Kappa (2003-2004)
Served on the Cleveland Board of Trustees and on the subcommittees for scholarships