ATLANTA, GA — The Georgia State School of Music is thrilled to announce the appointment of Aaron Kruziki to the Jazz Studies program as a faculty member specializing in jazz saxophone. Aaron Kruziki, a versatile and accomplished musician, brings a wealth of experience and talent to the university.
Aaron Kruziki is a multi-instrumentalist proficient in saxophones, clarinets, flutes, double reeds, and ethnic winds. His dedication to music and community is evident through his extensive career as a recording artist, composer, and arranger. Aaron’s work is featured on notable sound recording labels such as RCA, Vulf Records, Sunnyside, Whirlwind, Red Piano, WPR, Armored Records, and his own Kruzmusic. He is a 2019 Juno Award winner for Jazz Album of the Year (Group) and has performed at prestigious jazz festivals worldwide, including in New York, Vancouver, Toronto, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Luxembourg, Norway, and Tunisia.
Since 2019, Aaron has been a resident of Atlanta, having previously spent two decades in San Francisco, New York, Boston, and Michigan. His contributions as an educator include appearances as a clinician and guest artist at McGill University, University of Toronto, University of Arizona, Humber College, University of Northern Iowa, and University of Wisconsin-Parkside. His compositions and arrangements have been showcased at the Noorderlicht Photo Festival in the Netherlands, the Rubin Art Museum and Benrubi Art Gallery in New York City, the Robert Koch Gallery in San Francisco, and JapanFest ATL 2024.
Aaron has performed in concert with Tony Award-winning actress Bernadette Peters and multi-Grammy-winning artists Joan Rivers and Johnny Mathis. He has collaborated with jazz legends such as Andy Milne, Ben Monder, Ralph Alessi, Stanley Clarke, Rufus Reid, Fred Hersch, Clare Fischer, Jim McNeely, Azure McCall, and Randy Brecker. In Atlanta, he continues to work at notable venues such as the Fox Theatre, City Springs Theatre, The Temple, and with prominent musicians including bassist Lauren Seay, trumpeter Joe Gransden, guitarist Charles Williams, pianist Martial Toulouse, and many others.
In addition to his musical achievements, Aaron is actively involved in the community. He serves at the Atlanta Federation of Musicians, AFM Local 148-462, and is involved in grant management, recording session contract research and community outreach. He is also a member of SGI-USA, an international Nichiren Buddhist organization.
Aaron holds an undergraduate degree in Jazz Studies from Western Michigan University, where he studied with Trent Kynaston, and a master’s degree in Jazz Performance Studies from the New England Conservatory, where he studied with George Garzone. He is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy, studying with Bill Sears, and is excited to bring his extensive experience and passion for music to Georgia State.
“We are thrilled to have Aaron Kruziki join our faculty,” said Dr. Stuart Gerber, Interim Director of the School of Music. “His extensive background as both a performer and educator will be a tremendous asset to our program.”