Described as a “modern renaissance man,” (Over the Mountain Journal) Grammy® nominated pianist Aron Kallay‘s playing has been called “exquisite…every sound sounded considered, alive, worthy of our wonder” (LA Times). “Perhaps Los Angeles’ most versatile keyboardist,” (LaOpus) Aron has been praised as possessing “that special blend of intellect, emotion, and overt physicality that makes even the thorniest scores simply leap from the page into the listeners laps.” (KPFK) Aron’s performances often integrate technology, video, and alternate tunings; Fanfare magazine described him as “a multiple threat: a great pianist, brainy tech wizard, and visionary promoter of a new musical practice.”
Aron has performed throughout the United States and abroad and is a fixture on the Los Angeles new-music scene. He is the co-founder and board president of People Inside Electronics (PIE), a concert series dedicated to classical electroacoustic music, the managing director of MicroFest, Los Angeles’ annual festival of microtonal music, and the co-directer of the underground new-music concert series Tuesdays@MONK Space. He is also the co-director of MicroFest Records, whose first release, John Cage: The Ten Thousand Things, was nominated for a Grammy® award for Best Chamber Music Performance. Aron has recorded on MicroFest, Cold Blue, Delos, and Populist records. In addition to his solo work, Aron is currently a member of the Pierrot + percussion ensemble Brightwork newmusic, the Varied Trio, and the Ray-Kallay Duo. He is on the faculty of Pomona College and Chapman University.
All professional projects of Aron Kallay are fiscally sponsored by Fractured Atlas, and all donations are tax deductible. Click here to make a donation.
Coming Soon
D.M.A. in Piano Performance with Minors in Music Theory, Composition, and Electroacoustic Media
Grammy-Nominated Pianist (2014)
EDUCATION
2005-2009 Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance, University of Southern California
1999-2001 Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy and Performance, University of Michigan
1995-1999 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Piano Performance, Carnegie Mellon University
1997-1999 Certificate in Piano Pedagogy, Carnegie Mellon University
Piano Studies with Ralph Zitterbart, Louis Nagel, Thomas Mastroianni, and Daniel Pollack
Piano Pedagogy Studies with Hanna Wu Li, Joanne Smith, and John Ellis
Electro-Acoustic Media Studies with Dennis Thurmond
Composition Studies with Brian Head
Theory Studies with Robert Moore
EXPERIENCE
2013-Present Founding Member and Director, Brightwork newmusic
2013-Present Founding Member, Varied Trio
2012-Present Founding Member, The Ray-Kallay Duo
2012-Present Co-Director, MicroFest Records
2011-Present Lecturer, Chapman University, Orange, California
2011-Present Visiting Lecturer, Pomona College, Claremont, California
2009-Present Adjunct Instructor, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
2000-Present Concert Pianist
2009-Present Executive Director/Board President, People Inside Electronics (PIE) Concert Series, Los Angeles, California
2011-Present Co-Director, MicroFest Concert Series, Los Angeles, California
2007-Present Self-Employed Piano Instructor, Los Angeles, California
2006-2008 Assistant to Professor Daniel Pollack, Keyboard Department, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
2006-2008 Piano Faculty, Los Angeles Music and Art School, East Los Angeles, California
2002-2004 Director, Theory Department, The Academy of Music, Gaithersburg, Maryland
1999-2001 Secondary Class Piano Faculty, University of Michigan School of Music, Ann Arbor, Michigan
COLLEGE COURSES TAUGHT
Carnegie Mellon University Piano Lessons for Non-majors
University of Michigan Piano 110 – Beginning group piano for non-piano majors
University of Michigan Piano 111 – Intermediate group piano for non-piano majors
University of Michigan Piano 112 – Advanced group piano for non-piano majors
University of Southern California MPKS 501 – Private lessons in Electro-Acoustic Media
University of Southern California MPKA 301 – Private piano lesson for non-majors
Pomona College MUS 96a – Electronic Music Studio
Pomona College MUS 96b – Advanced Electronic Music Studio
Pomona College MUS 4 – Fundamentals of Music Theory
Chapman University MUS 244 – Introduction to Music Technology
Chapman University MUS 344 – Advanced Music Technology
AWARDS, HONORS AND AFFILIATIONS
2014 Grammy Nominee, Best Chamber Music Performance for The Ten Thousand Things
2011 Artist-In-Residence, Catalysis Projects
2010 Winner, Subito Grant, San Francisco Chapter of the American Composers Forum
2009-Present Faculty Advisor, USC Chapter of the California Association of Professional Music Teachers
2009-Present Member, American Composers Forum
2009-Present Member, Music Teachers Association of California
2008-Present Member, California Association of Professional Music Teachers
2007-Present Member, Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States
2000-PresentMember, Music Teachers National Association
2009 Graduated With Distinction from the University of Southern California
2009 Inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honors Society
2008 Inducted into Phi Kappa Phi National Honors Society
2005-2009 Scholarship Student of Professor Daniel Pollack, University of Southern California
2006-2007 President, Student Chapter of the CAPMT, University of Southern California
1999-2001 Graduate Student Instructor, Full Assistantship, University of Michigan School of Music