Aiden Coleman – Brass
Aiden Coleman (b. 2003) is a trombonist, composer, and educator based in Chicago, IL. He holds a Bachelor of Music from New England Conservatory of Music. A recent addition to the Chicago scene, Coleman has already left his mark with his unique approach to improvisation, wide array of influences, and technical proficiency.
Coleman is a prolific educator, and is extremely passionate about helping students of all ages improve through structured practice and goal-oriented learning. Coleman’s expertise lies in brass pedagogy, music theory, piano, ear training and improvisation, allowing him to explore students with a wide variety of skill levels and goals.
He has a rich experience in teaching students of all levels, working with students from elementary school through adulthood. His educational approach prioritizes a mixture of goal-setting structured lessons with flexibility to engage with students and foster a passionate relationship with music.
He is currently working as low brass faculty with Ravinia Festival’s Reach, Teach, Play initiative, and is on faculty with the Chicago Youth Symphony and works as a section coach at Niles West High School, and additionally maintains a private studio. While his specialty is in brass instruments, he has worked with students on saxophone, flute, clarinet and piano.
Coleman is well-versed in the Jazz education realm as well, and is on faculty at the Interplay Jazz and Arts Festival and has worked at the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music. Coleman was also named as a Teaching Artistry fellow at New England Conservatory’s Teaching Artistry program, working with experts in the field around the Boston area.
In addition to his rich teaching experience, Coleman is an active performer and composer in the Chicago Jazz and New Music scene. Coleman’s wealth of musical knowledge was fostered through his collaboration and mentorship from leading artists in the field.
Coleman has appeared with projects led by or featuring Jason Moran, Anna Webber, Nicole Mitchell, Frank Carlberg, Dave Holland, Ingrid Jensen, Maria Schneider, Nasheet Waits, Mary Halverson, Aoife O’Donovan, Cecil McBee, John Hollenbeck, Branford Marsalis and many others.
Coleman was also a member of the International Association for Schools of Jazz (IASJ) 2025 cohort, premiering his music with students from across the world. In his time at the New England Conservatory of Music, Coleman has studied a wide variety of musical styles both in and out of the Jazz discipline.
In addition to his many performances with the NEC Jazz Orchestra and NEC Jazz Composer’s Workshop Orchestra, Coleman constantly sought out new and different musical opportunities within the program. He has participated in the school’s Klezmer Ensemble, played in the pit for multiple operas, played in the NEC Wind Ensemble and the early jazz ensemble, along with many others. Born and raised in Westchester, New York, Coleman was a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center High School Jazz Academy and studied at Manhattan School of Music’s pre-college program.
In his time at these institutions, along with his time at NEC, Coleman has caught the attention and studied with such prolific musicians as Wycliffe Gordon, Michael Dease, Chris Crenshaw, Kalia Vendever, Marshall Gilkes, Elliot Mason, Jason Palmer, Jason Moran, Jerry Bergonzi, and many others. All of these pivotal figures have furthered Coleman’s keen interest in learning and growing his craft both on and off of the instrument.