Aaron Zalkind

Aaron Zalkind is Assistant Professor of Trombone at Texas State University and Principal Trombone of the New Mexico Philharmonic. He has held the principal position since 2021 and was awarded tenure in 2022.

Originally from Salt Lake City, Zalkind maintains an active career as an orchestral and chamber musician. He has appeared as guest principal trombone with the San Diego Symphony and Colorado Music Festival and has performed with the Seattle Symphony, Utah Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, New World Symphony, and other orchestras across the United States.

Zalkind is a member of Cantare Brass, a quintet of university professors and professional musicians from across the country. The ensemble presents recitals, masterclasses, and educational programs throughout the United States.

Committed to both performance and pedagogy, Zalkind has presented guest recitals and masterclasses at the University of Georgia, University of Utah, and University of Colorado Boulder, among others. He is the author of Fundies, a method book exploring brass fundamentals through progressive exercises.

His honors include second prize at the Zellmer Trombone Competition, two first prizes at the International Women’s Brass Conference competitions, and first prize in the University of Colorado Honors Competition. He was also a member of the Juilliard Trombone Quartet, winners of the 2016 American Trombone Workshop Quartet Competition in Washington, D.C.

Zalkind holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Colorado Boulder, a Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University. His primary teachers include William Stanley, Joseph Alessi, Peter Ellefson, and his father, Larry Zalkind.