Aaron Hynds is a Kentucky-based audio engineer, tubist, and composer. His creative practice is centered on the intersection of technology and live performance, with a specialty in the interpretation of contemporary music. To this end, he remains active as a performer and composer, while working primarily as an instructor and audio engineer in higher education.
Since the fall of 2019, Aaron has worked as the Lecturer of Music Business and New Media for the School of Music at University of Kentucky. He is the primary audio engineer for the School of Music, and has previously worked as the Sound Production Coordinator for the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Besides his academic positions, he is also the sole proprietor of Hynds Recording Services, a freelance audio engineering business.
As an engineer, Aaron’s recent and upcoming projects include a full-length CD of music for euphonium (Monkey to the Sky by Dr. Robert Benton, released in 2020 on Potenza Music), an upcoming CD of new music for tuba featuring Dr. Daniel Rowland, and his own double-CD of new commissions for the tuba, entitled Colossus: New Music for Tuba. Aaron has additionally worked as a lead recording technician at music festivals such as the University of Nebraska at Kearney New Music Festival and the SPLICE Institute (2020 festival cancelled due to COVID-19). Besides his work as a recording engineer, Aaron also has extensive experience as a live audio technician; responsibilities range from being A1 for multiple theatrical productions in Nebraska and Kentucky, to a myriad of live musical events (most recently being contracted to run sound as part of the production team for the 2020 SEAMUS National Conference).
Aaron's musical background is grounded in performance, having been a featured performer on the tuba across the United States since 2008. As a specialist in contemporary music, he has performed at events such as the inaugural Omaha Under the Radar Festival, the 2014 International Summer Course for New Music in Darmstadt, Germany, the Null Point music series in Buffalo, NY, Constellation-Chicago, and the 2016 and 2017 New Music Gatherings. In March of 2019, he was the featured guest artist for the 2019 UNK New Music Festival, performing several recently-composed works for tuba and bass trombone. In addition, he has appeared on CDs with groups such as Ensemble Dal Niente, the University of Wisconsin Wind Ensemble, and the Midwest Hackers. He recently recorded a doom metal/jazz trio album with collaborators Jordan Snow and Danny Hynds, to be released in 2021.
Besides his work as a performer, Aaron is also a composer and new media artist. Recent premieres include Robot; ready for piano and computer (for pianist Lucy Yao), and SID 6581 for amplified violin and computer (for violinist Abdel Anzaldua). Upcoming works include hollow town hums for xiao+xun and computer (for Hong-Da Chin) and a large-scale work for solo tuba and computer. He is also working on an interactive audiovisual work, utilizing Max/MSP for visuals and generative audio.
Aaron earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Music degrees from the University of Northern Iowa and University of Wisconsin-Madison, respectively, before completing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Contemporary Music from Bowling Green State University (the first brass player to graduate from the program since its inception in 2006). His document, entitled The Composer’s Guide to the Tuba: Creating a New Resource on the Tuba Family, is being prepared for publication, and may also be accessed at www.composerstubaguide.blog.
He is lucky to have studied with the following educators, all of whom have directly contributed to his musical, intellectual, and personal growth: David Saltzman, John Stevens, Dr. Jeffrey Funderburk, Dr. Sharon Huff, Thomas Miller, James Culbertson, Steve Schepper, Dr. Jonathan Schwabe, and Dr. Jerome Soneson.
Since the fall of 2019, Aaron has worked as the Lecturer of Music Business and New Media for the School of Music at University of Kentucky. He is the primary audio engineer for the School of Music, and has previously worked as the Sound Production Coordinator for the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Besides his academic positions, he is also the sole proprietor of Hynds Recording Services, a freelance audio engineering business.
As an engineer, Aaron’s recent and upcoming projects include a full-length CD of music for euphonium (Monkey to the Sky by Dr. Robert Benton, released in 2020 on Potenza Music), an upcoming CD of new music for tuba featuring Dr. Daniel Rowland, and his own double-CD of new commissions for the tuba, entitled Colossus: New Music for Tuba. Aaron has additionally worked as a lead recording technician at music festivals such as the University of Nebraska at Kearney New Music Festival and the SPLICE Institute (2020 festival cancelled due to COVID-19). Besides his work as a recording engineer, Aaron also has extensive experience as a live audio technician; responsibilities range from being A1 for multiple theatrical productions in Nebraska and Kentucky, to a myriad of live musical events (most recently being contracted to run sound as part of the production team for the 2020 SEAMUS National Conference).
Aaron's musical background is grounded in performance, having been a featured performer on the tuba across the United States since 2008. As a specialist in contemporary music, he has performed at events such as the inaugural Omaha Under the Radar Festival, the 2014 International Summer Course for New Music in Darmstadt, Germany, the Null Point music series in Buffalo, NY, Constellation-Chicago, and the 2016 and 2017 New Music Gatherings. In March of 2019, he was the featured guest artist for the 2019 UNK New Music Festival, performing several recently-composed works for tuba and bass trombone. In addition, he has appeared on CDs with groups such as Ensemble Dal Niente, the University of Wisconsin Wind Ensemble, and the Midwest Hackers. He recently recorded a doom metal/jazz trio album with collaborators Jordan Snow and Danny Hynds, to be released in 2021.
Besides his work as a performer, Aaron is also a composer and new media artist. Recent premieres include Robot; ready for piano and computer (for pianist Lucy Yao), and SID 6581 for amplified violin and computer (for violinist Abdel Anzaldua). Upcoming works include hollow town hums for xiao+xun and computer (for Hong-Da Chin) and a large-scale work for solo tuba and computer. He is also working on an interactive audiovisual work, utilizing Max/MSP for visuals and generative audio.
Aaron earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Music degrees from the University of Northern Iowa and University of Wisconsin-Madison, respectively, before completing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Contemporary Music from Bowling Green State University (the first brass player to graduate from the program since its inception in 2006). His document, entitled The Composer’s Guide to the Tuba: Creating a New Resource on the Tuba Family, is being prepared for publication, and may also be accessed at www.composerstubaguide.blog.
He is lucky to have studied with the following educators, all of whom have directly contributed to his musical, intellectual, and personal growth: David Saltzman, John Stevens, Dr. Jeffrey Funderburk, Dr. Sharon Huff, Thomas Miller, James Culbertson, Steve Schepper, Dr. Jonathan Schwabe, and Dr. Jerome Soneson.
