Aaron Campbell

Aaron began his musical education studying clarinet at the City of Belfast School of Music. He studied classical clarinet under Arthur Acheson and later with Dr. Paul Berry. In 1999, Aaron took saxophone lessons from Bob Hunt and later from Dr Paul Berry. Aaron joined the Ulster Youth Jazz Orchestra and was leader of that band until 2006. He was also first alto player in the City of Belfast Youth Concert Band and played first tenor in the Belfast Jazz Orchestra.

He now attends Leeds College of Music where he studied saxophone under Tori Freestone and is currently studying composition and arrangement under Trevor Vincent, Jamil Sheriff and Matt Bourne.

As a player, Aaron has toured throughout Europe to France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Holland and performed at venues in the Uk and Ireland including the Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Belfast Waterfront Hall and the Oddesy Arena, Belfast. Aaron played at the Guiness Cork International Jazz Festival, The Warrenpoint Jazz and Blues Festival, The Londonderry Jazz Festival and Wigan Jazz Festival.

Aaron has worked with Bruce Adams (trumpet - BBC Big Band), Ian Darrington (WYJO), Linley Hamilton (trumpet, Belfast), Oleg Kyrieve (saxophone, Poland), Ian Shaw (vocalist, BBC Big Band) and Brian Irvine (composer, Belfast).

As a composer, Aaron has written and arranged many works for Big Band as well as a number of compositions for orchestra, choir, and small ensemble. In March 2009 he will start his first tour as an MD, in Edinburgh with the Edinburgh University Jazz Band. The group will rehearse and perform Aaron's latest Big Band compositions.