A native of Lake Orion, MI, Spencer Aston is Assistant Professor of Music at Bridgewater State University where he leads the BSU Bear Band and teaches applied trumpet lessons as well as various music theory and history courses within the department. Prior to his appointment at BSU, he served on the faculties at the University of Massachusetts-Boston, Boston University, and the University of New Mexico.

 

Dr. Aston maintains a highly active performance schedule throughout New England. As a conductor, he is comfortable leading any combination of musicians in the orchestra or wind band literature. Aston played a major role in the creation of an orchestral program at the Powers Music School where he currently serves as the Director of the Massachusetts Youth Symphony Project as well as principal conductor for the MYSP Chamber Orchestra. He is also the Music Director of the Windham Concert Band in Windham, NH.

 

On the trumpet, Dr. Aston enjoys a variety of performance opportunities as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. In particular, his research interests include the study of modern performance techniques and works by American composers. He was featured soloist with the New England Brass Band on their 2012 album “Christmas Around the World” and has had the honor of recently performing as soloist with the Bridgewater State University Wind Ensemble and the University of Massachusetts-Boston Chamber Orchestra. Aston has received high marks in several competitions including 2nd place at the 2007 National Trumpet Competition Trumpet Ensemble Division, 3rd place at the 2013 North American Brass Band Conference Chamber Division, and the highest solo division award at the 2014 Susan Slaughter International Brass Competition.  

 

As an ensemble member, Dr. Aston is a founding member of the Fenway Quintet, a professional brass quintet that performs across New England.  He holds regular positions as 3rd Trumpet in the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra and 2nd trumpet in the Glens Falls Symphony (NY).  Other orchestral appearances include the New Bedford Symphony, Odyssey Opera, New England Philharmonic, Symphony New Hampshire, Orchestra of Indian Hill, and the Cape Symphony.

 

Dr. Aston is an active adjudicator and clinician for competitions and educational ensembles including most recently the MMEA Central District Festival Junior Orchestra, the National Trumpet Competition, the Brookline Symphony Concerto Competition, and the BSU Jazz Festival. He earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Boston University, Master of Music degree from the University of New Mexico, and Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music.  His primary conducting teachers include Charles Peltz and Dr. Terence Milligan.  His primary trumpet teachers include Terry Everson, Jeff Piper, Alan Siebert, and Philip Collins.

 

Spencer is an avid runner who as completing many half  and full marathons in addition to numerous shorter races.  He enjoys sharing his love of the sport as a coach for the Heartbreak Hill Striders and has helped hundreds of runners achieve their goals through a process of hard work and quality planning.  His background in musical performance has given him special insight on the psychology behind the process of preparation and training.   He has also recently completed his SCUBA diver certification and has fun venturing to far away places in search of his next underwater adventure.  Spencer lives in Abington, MA with his wife Chelsea Basler, son Emmett, and Sphynx Cat Merlin.