BIOGRAPHY
Aaron Gomez is a composer, conductor, and cellist with a dynamic career spanning performance, education, and international research. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Music Composition from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), where he studied under esteemed mentors Dr. Ethan Wickman, Dr. James Balentine, and Professor James Syler. Alongside his composition studies, Gomez honed his conducting skills under the guidance of Maestro Terence Frazor and Dr. Eugene Dowdy.
Gomez pursued advanced studies at Illinois State University (ISU), obtaining dual Master's degrees in Music Composition and Orchestral Conducting. During his time at ISU, he served as an assistant to Dr. Glenn Block and Orchestra Manager for the ISU Symphony Orchestra, where he led large and small ensembles, as well as staged musical and operatic productions.
A versatile musician, Gomez has played the cello since the age of nine, studying under celebrated cellists Ken Freudigman, Lachezar Kostov, Dan Zollars, Ryan Murphy, and Dr. Adriana Ransom. He has performed with ensembles, including the Orchestra of the Incarnate Word, Symphony Viva, Opus ’17, the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra, the "...and Friends" Chamber Ensemble, the San Antonio Chinese Orchestra, and the MiOpera Festival Orchestra.
In 2020, Gomez was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Research Grant to Taiwan, where he has been deeply immersed in the study of Traditional Chinese music and its modernization through contemporary Chinese composers. His research explores the evolution of Chinese orchestras and their repertoire, reflecting his dedication to cross-cultural musical exchange. Gomez currently resides in Taiwan, where he continues to compose, conduct, and perform while studying the Pipa, a traditional Chinese string instrument.
