Aaron Mitchell Irwin

For over two decades I have been a music educator, composer and performer in Southern California. As an Adjunct Professor of Music at Cuyamaca and Miramar College, I have taught Intro to World Music, History of Jazz, as well as Contemporary and West African Music Ensembles. As the Director of Music at STEAM Academy La Presa for 20 years, I have taught Modern Band, Latin Jazz Ensemble, Music Technology, Chamber Choir and World Drumming. I also serve as the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District Music Induction Mentor, and Music Content Lead. 

As a music composer, I have created several songs for the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District. I wrote for Good Dog: Building Community One Dog At A Time, which is featured on Amazon Prime. My most recent documentary, Down On The Ranch by Scott Campbell, was nominated for Local Favorite at the G.I. Film festival and debuted at the AmDocs Film Festival in 2022. I am currently composing music for a local documentary on a high profile San Diego trial in the early 1990s. I also compose and perform with Fern Street Circus.

As a native of San Diego, I have performed with numerous local outfits, including my currently jazz project, The Hot Club of Bird Park, and collaborations with DJ and producer Tah Rei. I have toured throughout the United States and internationally, and have won three San Diego Music Awards with Alfred Howard & The K23 Orchestra. I have also shared the stage with notable acts such as Cesaria Evora, Digital Underground, Ike Turner's Band, Dirtwire, Fishbone, Slightly Stupid, Los Amigos Invisibles, Zap Mama, Sound Tribe Sector 9, the B-Side Players, and have performed at Burning Man, Lightening In A Bottle, High Sierra Music Festival, Earthdance and Xingolati.

I hold a Master's of Arts Degree in Ethnomusicology, a Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance and Education, and a California Clear Teaching Credential from San Diego State University. I have studied traditional West African music and dance at the University of Ghana at Legon, and taught and performed traditional Ghanaian music and dance for the Center for World Music in Bali, Indonesia. 

My current passions include co-facilitating grief tending rituals, sound baths and cosmic dance with Amy Ma, M.Ed., leading yoga and drum circle classes at the San Carlos Community Garden, volunteering/DJing with the Church of Music, gardening and spending time in nature with my family and friends.