Dr. Aaron Peisner is Assistant Professor and Director of Choral Activities at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He holds the Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from University of Maryland, the Master of Music in choral conducting from Yale University, and the Bachelor of Arts in music from Wesleyan University.

Before coming to UNCW, Dr. Peisner served as Interim Director of Choirs at Goucher College in Towson, MD. He has prepared choirs for performances with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Marin Alsop, as well as the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of conductors Gianandrea Noseda, Donald Runnicles, and Jeannette Sorrell. Dr. Peisner has also served as chorus master for opera productions with the Maryland Opera Studio and Opera Wilmington.

A bass-baritone, Dr. Peisner has sung professionally with the choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine in Washington, DC, the San Francisco Choral Artists, Polyhymnia (NYC), and Yale Schola Cantorum. 

His research areas include the performance and recording history of Spanish Renaissance music, Kurt Weill’s Das Berliner Requiem for men’s chorus and wind band, and critical pedagogy and the music leadership practices of collegiate a cappella groups. His awards to date include Daniel L. Pomeroy Prize for outstanding work in 17th- and 18th-century music, University of Maryland, the Lipsky Prize for Choral Excellence, Wesleyan University, and High Honors in Music, Wesleyan University.

Aaron takes over the leadership from Jerry Cribbs, the founder and 24-year artistic director and conductor of the Chorale. According to Aaron, “…  he and I value many of the same things: kindness, dedication to musical excellence, meticulousness, and cultivating community through shared artistic experiences. I will do my very best to bring those qualities to every rehearsal and concert with Cape Fear Chorale. I look forward to making incredible music with you all and sharing that music with our wider community.”