Our Team
Our Lead Teaching Artist
Born a city-boy in Kansas, it is the Kansas landscape and the working people that inspires Aaron. Farmer, teacher, nurse, factory worker, urban and rural families are the ones who make this State great. Early morning sunrise over the flint hills or a star stretched night sky of western Kansas, this state reverberates in his soul.
Aaron ​a native Kansan who grew up in Topeka and moved to Wichita, Kansas to attend Friends University. There he received a degree in Music Education and then went to Wichita State University where he received a Masters in Music Education (Conducting). Aaron taught in the Wichita district for 11 years before setting out as a full time musician.
​
Aaron is a member of the Kansas Arts on Tour Roster with the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission. He is a Nationally Credentialed Teaching Artist with Young Audiences in New York and a National Trainer with Wolf Trap Early Learning Through the Arts in Vienna VA. Aaron is a founding Artist with Arts Partners Wichita where he is a roster Artist and a Teaching Artist and a Baby ArtsPlay Teaching Artist with Kansas Wolf Trap. Aaron is a proud member of AFM Local 1000 currently serving as the President.
​
In 1990, Aaron co-founded Hope Street Youth Development and served as its Executive Directory for 19 years. The organization worked with middle and high school students providing leadership opportunities including academic tutoring and youth organizing. This experience allowed him the opportunity to listen and work closely with students.
​
Aaron's music career includes 11 years of public school education with memberships in MENC (Music Education National Conference) and ACDA (American Choral Directors Association). Aaron trained with the Kansas School Team Training for Substance Abuse Training and the Kansas Leadership Center. Aaron consultants with several schools across south-central Kansas on issues of self-esteem, goal setting and leadership development in young people.
​
Aaron understands the power of community in and it is through the singing of OUR stories that we are reminded of this value that keep us all moving forward.
The Marvelous Kuumba
Kuumba is an AKC registered black lab. Kuumba is Aaron's 3rd lad that has worked in the classroom with him. His first two dogs were Ms. Bella and Choco. Aaron has done all the training with all his dogs. Kuumba was born in 2022. Kuumba will complete his Therapy Dog International certification and their Professional Therapy Dog certification in the fall of 2024.
​​
Aaron loved going into schools that had therapy dogs in the classroom. What a gift! After loosing a 12 year old black lab several years ago, he knew he wanted to train his dogs to work with him in the classroom. If you have not had the privilege of watching a therapy dog in the classroom you have missed something phenomenal.
​
Kuumba joins Aaron in most of my programs when appropriate He always start with a brief description of Working Dogs, including Service Dogs and Therapy Dogs and how to meet and greet them. Most service dogs are working and can not be petted because it would distract them from their job, but not Kuumba. He is in service to the students (and teachers!). Kuumba's job is to be with kids and offer a connection that many need to help them through the day.
​
Aaron's first two dogs, Bella and Choco are the main characters in his Children's book series The Adventures of Bella and Choco.