Dr. Aaron Jacobs enjoys a multifaceted career as a teacher, performing artist, ensemble director, and clinician. Currently, Aaron looks forward to beginning a new chapter at the University of New Mexico (UNM) in Fall 2024, where he will assume leadership of a multifaceted program and course load in String Pedagogy—including the Master of Music degree in String Pedagogy—as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of the UNM Music Prep School and String Pedagogy Lab School. Aaron’s past teaching experience includes public school, community, pre-college, and university studio and classroom teaching. He has served as a violin professor on the faculties of Millikin University and Illinois State University and founded the Illinois String Academy at the University of Illinois. Additionally, he has an extensive background in program building, curriculum design, pre-service and professional teacher education, administration, and leadership.

As an active chamber and solo recitalist, Aaron has performed throughout the United States and Europe. Collaborations with his wife and duo partner—pianist, Tatiana Shustova—have been particularly rewarding. Since 2005, performances have taken the Jacobs-Shustova Duo to Italy, Russia, and throughout the United States, and they have earned awards at two international competitions. Other notable chamber music collaborations have included the Sariana Trio, Chambana Trio, Illinois Arts Trio, and close work with composers Stacy Garrop, Missy Mazzoli, and Bright Sheng in the performance of their works. Aaron’s extensive work as a professional orchestral musician has included numerous appointments as concertmaster, principal second violin, or principal viola. Additionally, he has been a featured soloist with chamber orchestras at Bowling Green State University and the University of Illinois, the Danville IL Symphony Orchestra, Jacksonville IL Symphony Orchestra, and Illinois State University Symphony Orchestra.
As a clinician, Aaron consistently serves as a resource to string teachers throughout the United States and on six continents. Since 2017, he has worked with hundreds of professional educators, performers, and students as a faculty member of the Paul Rolland String Pedagogy Workshop, Co-Directing the workshop in 2019, 2020, and 2021, and reassuming this role for 2024. In 2023 he was appointed Vice President of Events and Publicity for the Paul Rolland String Pedagogy Society and serves as a Mentor for string teachers enrolled in the Society’s certification program. Additionally, Aaron has presented research and clinical sessions at the American String Teachers Association National Conference, the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, and the Illinois Music Educators Conference, and has been invited to lead master classes and clinics at several universities throughout the Midwest.
Aaron holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree and Artist Certificate in Violin Performance from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, a Master of Music degree in Violin Performance and String Pedagogy from Northwestern University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Violin Performance and Literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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