Aaron Kahn is an experimental trumpet soloist, music educator, creative entrepreneur, marketing writer, event producer, and community engagement specialist.
Hailed in the Oregon Jewish Review—the largest Jewish news publication in the state—as a “Portland-based trumpet virtuoso…signal[ing] and convey[ing] the importance of being a young adult Jew in today’s world,” Aaron uses music as a vessel for activism, healing, and empowerment.
His creative mission is to push artistic boundaries, expand collective imagination, and champion humanitarian, environmental, political, and spiritual causes through performance and education.
Aaron first studied Music and Cognitive Psychology at McGill University in Montreal, QC, before earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the California Institute of the Arts.
He went on to complete his Master of Music in Performance at the University of Oregon, where he served as a salaried Graduate Teaching Fellow for the trumpet studio from 2015–2017 under internationally acclaimed musician and educator, Prof. Brian McWhorter.
As a passionate educator, Aaron has taught in a wide variety of school settings across Portland—sharing his expertise in music as well as academic subjects such as English and writing. He has also honed his communication and storytelling skills through roles in copywriting and public relations.
Aaron has worked with some of the most influential artists and ensembles in contemporary music, including Grammy-winning artists such as Teddy Abrams, Michael Gordon, Mason Bates, David Rozenblatt, and the band Chicago.
He has also collaborated closely with Pacific Northwest composer Justin Ralls, a two-time NEA grantee, including on a world premiere arrangement of Judas Maccabeus for piccolo trumpet and organ, performed at Congregation Beth Israel in December 2025.
In April 2025, Aaron was honored to perform With Malice Toward None from the film Lincoln at the Opening Ceremony of the Oregon House of Representatives.
Graduate Teaching Fellow, University of Oregon (2015–2017)
Under the mentorship of world-renowned musician and educator Prof. Brian McWhorter, Aaron taught and supported undergraduate trumpet students, gaining deep experience in music education and leadership within a vibrant academic setting.
Art/Lab Fellow, a contemporary Jewish artists’ fellowship under Rabbi Joshua Rose and Shoshana Gugenheim Kedem
Aaron was selected as a fellow for Art/Lab, a contemporary Jewish artist fellowship led by Rabbi Joshua Rose and artist-educator Shoshana Gugenheim Kedem. This unique program brought together Jewish creatives to explore identity, tradition, and innovation through artistic practice and community dialogue.
Arts3C Grant Recipient, Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC)
In recognition of Aaron work in music and creative collaboration, he received the Arts3C grant from RACC. This grant supports community-focused, culturally creative projects in the Portland area, and it helped further his mission to use music as a tool for connection, healing, and storytelling.