Abstract
Aaron Tan is a Canadian organist, pianist, and materials scientist. His primary musical tutelage has been under John Tuttle, David Palmer, and Joel Hastings. His musical upbringing began on the piano and later on the violin. Receiving his Associate (ARCT) diploma in Piano Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada at the age of twelve, he went on to earn his Licentiate (LTCL) and Fellowship (FTCL) diplomas in Piano Performance from Trinity College of Music (London, England) at 13 and 15 years, respectively. When he was 18, he also completed his ARCT diploma in Violin Performance.
In 2004, under the auspices of the Barwell Scholarship (awarded to pianists interested in learning the organ), he began organ studies with John Tuttle while concurrently entering as a freshman in Engineering Science at the University of Toronto. Since then, he has gone on to complete both Associate (ARCCO) and Fellowship (FRCCO) diplomas in organ from the Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO). In addition, he has also won numerous noteworthy contests and scholarships including the Toronto RCCO Young Organists Competition, the Osborne Organ Competition of the Summer Institute of Church Music (Ontario), the RCCO's National Organ Playing Competition, the Charlotte Hoyt Bagnall Scholarship for Church Musicians, the Lilian Forsyth Scholarship, the West Chester University Organ Competition, the Arthur Poister Scholarship Competition, and the Sursa American Organ Competition. In July 2018, he received both first and audience prizes in the prestigious AGO National Young Artists (NYACOP) competition.
Aaron moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2007 to pursue a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan. During his time in Ann Arbor, he had the opportunity to study the organ with Marilyn Mason, University Organist. After graduating in 2012 he began work as a postdoctoral researcher in the University of Michigan's Laboratory for Complex Materials and Thin Films Research, studying the dielectric and thermal properties of polymer thin films. After an eleven-year hiatus, Aaron returned to playing the piano in 2012. He was a participant in the Poland International Piano Festival that summer, and received first prize in the festival's competition. He regularly performs on both the piano and organ.
Aaron recently completed a four-year position as Organ Scholar at St. John's Episcopal Church in Detroit, Michigan, working with Huw Lewis. He was soon afterwards appointed Artist in Residence at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Detroit, and currently serves as Assistant Organist at Christ Church Cranbrook. More information about Aaron's musical interests and activities can be found at www.AaronTan.org.