Aaron Burkhart

Band Director

About

Aaron Burkhart serves as Director of Bands and Co-Performing Arts Department Chair at Pike High School in Indianapolis, Indiana.  He has held similar positions at Lincoln Middle School (2012-2015) and Eastern Greene Schools (2006-2010). In his current role at Pike High School, Mr. Burkhart oversees every aspect of the Instrumental Music and Dance program and serves as principal director for the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble 1, and Pit Orchestra. He also teaches AP Music Theory, IB Music, and assistant directs the Freshman Band, Symphonic Band, Marching Band, and Pep Band.

Ensembles and students under the direction of Mr. Burkhart have received consistent Gold Ratings at ISSMA events and are active performers in the Pike community. Mr. Burkhart maintains an active schedule as a performer, guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician including events with ISSMA, IBA, and IMEA. He has also been named the Indiana Music Educator of the Year by the New World Youth Orchestras (2017) and has been honored as a Pike Township Top 30 Influential Educator (2018, 2019, 2020, 2022). His professional memberships include IBA, JEN, IJEA, IMEA, and NAfME. 

Aaron Burkhart earned his Bachelor of Music Education-Instrumental in 2006 and his Master of Music in Wind Conducting in 2012—both from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music where he studied trombone with Carl Lenthe, conducting with Stephen W. Pratt, and jazz with David Baker, Pat Harbison, and Dr. Lissa May.

Aaron’s wife Dr. Nora Burkhart is a pharmacist with Express Scripts and a community theatre actress. They have three daughters: Rebecca, Cecilia, and Eliza.