Belchertown native, Aaron Lakota has taken an active role in promoting the musical well-being of western Massachusetts through teaching and performance. He has been teaching private lessons in the community for over ten years, and has been performing professionally for nearly as long. He began his collegiate studies at Holyoke Community college, and holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in oboe performance from the University of Massachusetts. Aaron’s main teachers are Fredric T.Cohen and Tamara Field.  He has performed with many orchestras, concert bands, and choruses throughout New England as a a free-lance musician. His active involvement as a chamber musician include appearances in recital series including the Mohawk Trail chamber series, Tuesdays in Bezanson at the University of Massachusetts, as well as other chamber and solo recitals throughout New England. Aaron Recently performed the Vaughn Williams oboe concerto with the Holyoke Civic Symphony,  and the oboe concerto by Clemence de Grandval with the Farmington Valley Symphony.

Mr.Lakota has experience teaching students of all ages and backgrounds and his own teaching career ranges from teaching applied instrumental studies at Deerfield academy, Community music school of Springfield, Westfield School of Music and oboe techniques at the University of Massachusetts, to acting as a musical teaching assistant for the award winning University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band. Mr.Lakota works as a professional oboe reed maker, and owns and operates A.Lakota Reeds in Holyoke MA when he is not teaching or performing.