Director of Bands/Orchestra – Independence High School, Columbus City Schools
Music Educator and Consultant
Director / Founder, The All-Star Brass Bands
Member since: 1984
(charter member)
Eric Aho is a charter member of the BBC and has functioned as Principal Euphonium of the band since its beginning. He has served as a past Assistant Director of the BBC.
Eric holds three degrees: a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Art in Music, and a Ph. D. in Music Education from The Ohio State University and is most widely known in brass band circles for his contribution as the founder/director of The All-Star Brass Bands – the first and most awarded youth honors brass band organization in North America.
Now in its 29th season, the All-Stars have won wide acclaim at an International level and have been invited to participate in numerous prestigious competitions and festivals to include the International Youth in Music Festival in Vienna, Bristol Live!, the famed World Music Contest in Kirkrade, as well as other festivals and competitions in the UK, New Zealand, Australia, The Bahamas, and most recently – China. The All-Stars have performed at the Hannaford Brass Festival in Toronto. They acceped a prestigious invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall in June 2009 as part of the New York Band & Orchestra Festival which also included a concert at the Naumberg Bandshell in Central Park. The All-Stars are consistently invited to other International Festivals and Competitions – the main barrier to acceptance is funding and keeping the program affordable to student members without harming the level they can participate in their respective school band programs.The All-Stars returned by invitation to Carnegie Hall for another international festival in June 2014.
Eric’s career has spanned his start in SouthWestern City Schools, Director of Marching and Athletic Bands at Kent State University, Director of Bands at Bethany College, Orchestra Director for the Yellow Springs High School and District and now as Director of Bands/Orchestra at Independence High School – Columbus City Schools. Eric has also be a long time member of the God and Country Concert Planning Committee in two separate service periods a few years apart. Eric is Chairperson for the 2015 God and Country Concert and onward for at least 2 years.
Eric resides in Canal Winchester with his very musical family – his wife Amy (trombone) and their three children: Nicholas (euphonium), Kyla (cornet and Irish dance – as in very musical feet), and Davis (piano and euphonium).
