ABOUT
Aaron Rib (they/them) is an Atlanta-based flutist who seeks to share joy, love, and kinship through the transformative experience of live music-making.
An ardent believer in the power of imaginative storytelling, Aaron strives for a humanistic approach to performance through expressive playing and an emphasis on the listener's experience. Aaron particularly enjoys chamber and orchestral settings, where they can collaborate with other artists to engage and connect with audiences through live performance. Aaron is also a dedicated proponent of music education and the positive impact it can have on the lives of students of any age and background.
Aaron enjoys a burgeoning career as an orchestral flutist and has recently been appointed as Second Flute & Piccolo of the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra. Their past and ongoing orchestral engagements include performances with the Canton, Wheeling, and Johnstown symphonies, notably including a statewide tour of West Virginia as a guest musician with the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra in July 2022. As a freelance artist, their explorations of chamber music are varied and genre-bending, ranging from the world premiere of Persian composer Reza Vali’s Kismet for three flutes with Pittsburgh new music ensemble NAT 28, to sold-out performances of “A New World: Music from Final Fantasy” under the direction of conductor-composer Eric Roth. Most recently, Aaron combined pedagogy and performance with a lecture-recital exploring diverse flute duo repertoire at the National Flute Association 2024 convention in San Antonio, TX. Beyond the stage, Aaron’s desire to grow a love for music in others drives their passion for increasing the accessibility and inclusiveness of classical music in their community. Supporting that work, they serve as co-founder and Director of Communications of Azure Family Concerts Pittsburgh, a sensory-friendly concert series for individuals with autism. Aaron is also a proud former member of Musicians With a Mission, a cohort of Pittsburgh performers committed to bringing music and human connection into local healthcare facilities.
Born and raised in Clearwater, Florida, Aaron received their Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Performance at the Frost School of Music—University of Miami, and their Master of Music degree at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During their education, they achieved several milestones in their artistic growth, including First Prize at the National Flute Association 2020 Orchestral Audition & Masterclass Competition, First Prize at the 2020 BIG ARTS Classical Music Scholarship Competition, and a featured solo performance on WQXR, New York City’s classical station, in July 2019. They have attended festivals as a fellow at Festival Napa Valley and spent two summers at Brevard Music Center. Aaron is indebted to the wisdom and artistry of their foundational instructors Lorna McGhee, Jennifer Grim, Trudy Kane, and Carmen Bannon, and grateful for additional studies with Alberto Almarza, Valerie Coleman, Amy Porter, and Dilshad Posnock. Aaron is dedicating their career to fostering human connection wherever they live and carrying on the legacy of musical joy from their mentors. Offstage, Aaron enjoys spending time outdoors, spotting squirrels on walks in Grant Park, and searching for new and exciting vegan recipes with their partner Ben.