Aaron David Miller
Prize winner of several prestigious competitions, including the top prize at the AGO National Improvisation Competition, and the Bach and Improvisation prizes at the Calgary International Organ Festival Competition, Aaron David Miller is in constant demand as a recitalist. His repertoire spans all periods but he is particularly noted for his stylish performances of Johann Sebastian Bach and his imaginative and highly original improvisations. His recent recital performances have taken him across the country, from Rhode Island, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Washington DC, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas to Washington State and California. He has been invited to perform at a number of Bach festivals, including the Calgary Bach Festival, the Los Angeles Bach Festival, and the Basically Bach Festival at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in New York City. He has presented recitals and workshops for a number of AGO Chapters, including Atlanta, Central New York, Westchester County, Greater Kansas City, Toledo, Twin Cities and Seattle. He has led Hymn Festivals for Augsburg Fortress across the country. In April 2005 he performed for the dedication of the restored Skinner organ at the Toledo Art Museum with the Toledo Symphony. He has performed for regional and national conventions of the AGO and ALCM. Aaron’s first solo compact disc, showcasing his performances of Bach and his improvisatory skills, has been released on the Dulcian label. He provided organ music on the soundtrack for the ELCA Mosaic’s DVD about the life of J. S. Bach, “Glory to God Alone”. Featured prominently at the AGO National Convention in Chicago in 2006, Dr. Miller’s new work for organ and orchestra, "Sleepy Hollow", was premiered at the opening concert in Symphony Hall. Several of his other compositions were performed and he led a Hymn Festival.
Dr. Miller’s compositions have won critical acclaim and he has received numerous commissions. Recently the Toledo Symphony commissioned a work, which was performed in celebration of their 60th anniversary season. The Seattle Symphony presented the west coast premiere of his work, “Advent Fanfare” for brass octet and organ. His Concerto for Two Organists, which was premiered and recorded by the Zurich Symphony, is available on the Ethereal label. Dr. Miller’s many solo organ, choral, and orchestra compositions are published by Augsburg Fortress, Paraclete Press, ECS and Kjos Publishing House.
Aaron Miller’s early organ studies were with Carlene Neihart and David Schrader. His earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied organ performance with David Craighead, Russell Saunders, David Higgs, and Michael Farris, and composition with Samuel Adler and Joseph Schwantner. His graduate studies were taken at the Manhattan School of Music, where he completed his Master’s degree and DMA, studying composition and organ performance with McNeil Robinson.
Dr. Miller was recently appointed the Director of Music and Organist at House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. He and his wife, Nina, have a five year old son, Zachary.
Aaron David Miller is represented by Penny Lorenz Artist Management
Find additional information on his web site at www.aarondavidmiller.com
Quotes from Press and Presenters:
“Organist thrills with improve skills.” The first half of the concert exhibited Miller’s strength as an interpreter. It was full of tremendous, propulsive energy; tastefully selected colors; and foot and finger technique to burn. While it was certainly a pleasure to hear a fine instrument played by a musician of such extraordinary artistry and technical prowess, what made the concert unusual was the fact that the second half of the program consisted of Miller improvising an entire four-movement sonata based on themes presented to him at intermission. ---Susan Peña, The Reading Eagle, Sept, 2006
“Soloist Aaron David Miller closed the first half of the program with a dazzling improvisation and the second half with a partially orchestrated rendition of J. S. Bach’s G Minor Fugue. The evening was an unquestioned success. Miller….showed himself to be an engaging soloist. His voicings were colorful, his use of rhythm vitalizing.” --- Steven Cornelius, The Toledo Blade, March, 2006
"Aaron was GREAT. We had a very enthusiastic audience of about 250 ...and he just dazzled them, with both his playing and the warmth of his personality. The improvisations were spectacular: The tunes I picked were Aberystwyth, Royal Oak, Bunessan, and Dexter (Earth and All Stars). No question about it ...he is an incredibly gifted young performer." ...Stephen Best, Director of Music/Organist, First Presbyterian Church, Utica, NY November 1999
"Aaron Miller's performance of Bach's Canonic Variations was brilliant!" ...Simon Preston, October 8, 1998
"Aaron possesses a composer's insight to understanding music." ...Samuel Adler
"Aaron has one of the most vivid musical imaginations I've heard. His improvisations are nothing short of spectacular. People talk about improvisation being dead in the classical world. That might be true, but it's alive and kicking in Aaron. Any musician, classical or jazz, will find Aaron's creativity breathtaking." ...Dave Brubeck, October 2000
"Dr. Miller presented an excellent program. Fine music performed with great insight and that very special quality of reaching a widely diverse audience through a combination of fine technique, intuitive musicality, and that certain "magic" of communication that eludes many other fine performers." ...William Hansen, on Piporg-l, August 2, 2001
"What a superb player! Elegant music-making throughout, and the concluding improvisation was wonderful!" ...Jerome Butera, Editor-The Diapason
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