Aaron Hill

Assistant Professor, Saxophone, WSU Jazz Big Band & WSU Jazz Lab Band

Dr. Aaron Hill received his master’s degree in Jazz Studies from NCCU in 2012, during which time he studied with Dr. Ira Wiggins, Dr. Brian Horton and Branford Marsalis. His master’s thesis focused on the adaptation of the compositional techniques of Olivier Messiaen to Jazz composition.

While pursuing his DMA at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, he studied with Dr. Steven Stusek and Dr. Susan Fancher and was the recipient of UNCG’s Holderness Fellowship. He has studied and performed much of the standard repertoire for classical saxophone and has been a featured soloist with the North Carolina Symphony and North Carolina School of Science and Math Wind Ensemble. During his DMA he also spent a semester as Sabbatical Replacement for Dr. Stusek. His duties included teaching all undergraduate classical saxophone lessons, conducting the school’s Saxophone Ensemble, and leading weekly repertoire classes. His doctoral dissertation was the first in-depth academic analysis of the improvisational style of Johnny Hodges.

For the past 25 years, he has performed throughout the U.S., Pacific Islands, and Europe. He has shared the stage with, among others, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Branford Marsalis, Joey Calderazzo, Jimmy Heath, Cyrus Chestnut, Chaka Khan, Isaac Hayes and Michael McDonald. His arrangements and recordings have been heard on television and radio internationally, including on the Discovery Channel and Sesame Street. He has given masterclasses and recitals throughout North Carolina to middle school, high school, and college level students, and has appeared as a clinician and guest conductor at numerous regional and all-state festivals.

Prior to coming to WSU, Dr. Hill held academic appointments at North Carolina Central University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, and The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Courses taught by Dr. Hill at those institutions include: Undergraduate and Graduate Applied Saxophone (Jazz and Classical), Applied Flute, Jazz Theory, Jazz Arranging, Jazz History, Introduction to Music Theory, Music Fundamentals, Music Appreciation, Woodwind Methods, Jazz Combo and Big Band.