About
Eritrean-American violinist Aaron Beraki is a versatile and passionate performer and educator who strives to connect with audiences and communities of all backgrounds and walks of life. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, he is currently pursuing his master's degree in violin performance at the University of Northern Iowa under the tutelage of Dr. Nash Ryder while also serving as a graduate assistant in Music History.
Aaron’s experience as a performer spans a variety of genres. As an orchestral musician, he has subbed with the Dubuque, Waterloo-Cedar Falls, and Winona Symphonies. He has also served as guest principal second violin with the Alpharetta Symphony and the Wartburg Community Symphony. In addition, he has had the opportunity to work with esteemed conductors such as JoAnn Faletta, Keith Lockhart, Damon Gupton, Sebastian Lang-Lessing, and Mei-Ann Chen. As a chamber musician, he was heavily immersed in the string quartet literature through the John and Linda Cooke String Quartet Scholarship, as well as receiving additional training and performance opportunities in other chamber ensembles. An advocate for embracing new music, he has recorded and premiered contemporary orchestral, chamber, and solo works. He has also had the privilege of working with acclaimed living composers, including Jennifer Higdon, Wynton Marsalis, Adolphus Hailstork, and Mason Bates. In 2019, he made his Carnegie Hall debut as concertmaster of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra during their summer tour.
Aaron has received additional musical training at the Sewanee Music Festival and the Brevard Music Center, where he studied with Lin He, Francessca Anderegg, Timothy Lees, and Byron Tauchi. He has also participated in masterclasses with Amy Schawrtz Moretti, David Finckel, Philippe Quint, Zuill Bailey, Robert Koenig, Gabriel Richard, and the Pacifica, Harlem, and Arianna Quartets.
A passionate educator wanting to inspire the next generation, he has guided students who have participated in various youth orchestras, including the GMEA All-State Orchestra and the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he has served as a mentor for the Atlanta Music Project and as a chamber music coach for KSU’s Summer Music Intensive.
During his undergraduate studies, Aaron received multiple academic and musical honors. These include receiving the KSU Director’s Spotlight Award and KSU ArtsGala Scholar Award, being nominated for the Presser Scholar Award given by the Presser Foundation, and being a member of the Phi Kappa Lambda Honors Society. In addition, he was a recipient of the John and Linda Cooke String Quartet Scholarship during all four years of his undergraduate studies.
Aaron began playing the violin at the age of twelve through the public school system. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in violin performance from Kennesaw State University, where he studied under Helen Kim. His other primary teachers include Charissa Leung, Eileen Drew, and Eric Toomsen. In his spare time, he enjoys being outdoors, making espresso drinks at home, and exploring coffee shops and restaurants.