Michael Aarons
Michael Aarons | |
|---|---|
| Born | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Guitarist, music coordinator, composer |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Known for | Broadway performances and music coordination, founder of M² Music |
Michael Aarons is a New York City-based American guitarist and music coordinator. He established the Broadway music coordination company known as M² Music.
Early life and education
Aarons grew up in Washington, D.C., and completed his studies in 1994 at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts (DESA), where he specialized in the Instrumental Music (Jazz) program. His mentor was saxophonist and educator Davey Yarborough, who directed the jazz curriculum at DESA. In his final year, Aarons participated in a performance with Stevie Wonder during the school’s 20th-anniversary benefit event held on June 6, 1994.
Later that same year, he relocated to New York City to pursue further education at the Manhattan School of Music.
Guitarist
Aarons’ Broadway performance credits include shows such as Frozen, Kinky Boots, Evita, Godspell, Baby It’s You!, Green Day’s American Idiot, Memphis, 9 to 5, Grease, and High Fidelity. Beyond Broadway stages, he has played or recorded alongside artists including Barry Manilow, Liza Minnelli, Michael McDonald, Patti LaBelle, and Plácido Domingo.
Music coordination
His role as a music coordinator encompasses Broadway and touring productions like Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Jagged Little Pill, & Juliet, as well as the 2024 revivals of The Wiz and Sunset Boulevard. Additional credits include Harmony, How to Dance in Ohio, and The Heart of Rock and Roll. Recent projects also feature work on BOOP! and Real Women Have Curves. His involvement is documented on official production sites for shows such as The Wiz, Center Theatre Group’s staging of & Juliet, and MCC Theater’s presentations of The Wrong Man, Only Gold, and Space Dogs.
Industry reviews have recognized Aarons’ contributions to productions including the 2018 show Pretty Woman: The Musical, 2017’s Escape to Margaritaville, and 2019’s Superhero in publications like Variety. Additionally, his work on the 2023 production of How to Dance in Ohio was highlighted on Talkin’ Broadway.
M² Music
In 2015, Aarons co-launched M² Music, a firm specializing in music coordination and orchestra contracting for Broadway productions, national tours, film and television scoring, as well as concert events. The company handles payroll management and budgeting tasks, such as preparing AFM contracts, ensuring union compliance, and fulfilling employer-of-record responsibilities including liability insurance, tax submissions, and benefits administration. A case study by Knack showcases M² Music’s proprietary web platform designed for musician database management, onboarding processes, scheduling, quotations, and payroll services.
Composer / other media work
Outside of Broadway, Aarons has composed and produced music for television and commercial projects through his production company Hybrid Music Productions. His work includes contributions related to Sesame Street dating back to the 2010s. He also provided additional guitar arrangements for the 2009 Broadway production of Next to Normal.
Cast recordings
- 9 to 5: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2009) — guitar (Broadway credit; IBDB).
- Next to Normal (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2009) — supplemental guitar arrangements.
- Memphis (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2010) — guitar (Broadway credit; IBDB).
- Kinky Boots (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2013) — guitar.
- School of Rock – The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2015) — music coordinator.
- Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2015) — music coordinator.
- The Color Purple – New Broadway Cast Recording (2016) — music coordinator.
- Dear Evan Hansen (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2017) — music coordinator.
- Anastasia (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2017) — music coordinator.
- War Paint (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2017) — music coordinator.
- SpongeBob SquarePants, The New Musical (Original Cast Recording) (2017) — acoustic and electric guitar; banjo; ukulele.
- Escape to Margaritaville (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2018) — music coordinator.
- Frozen: The Broadway Musical – Original Broadway Cast Recording (2018) — guitar; octave mandolin; coordination.
- Miss You Like Hell (Original Cast Recording) (2018, Off-Broadway) — music coordinator.
- Jagged Little Pill – Original Broadway Cast Recording (2019) — music coordinator; guitar on select tracks.
- Be More Chill (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2019) — music coordinator.
- Moulin Rouge! The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2019) — music coordinator.
- Diana: The Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2021) — guitar.
- The Heart of Rock and Roll (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2024) — music coordinator.
Additional recordings
- Liza’s Back - Liza Minnelli (2002) — guitarist on live album.
- Not Easy to Forget – Anya Singleton (2006) — co-writer and performer.
- The Other Side – Anya Singleton (2008) — co-writer and performer.
- The Journey – Sir Gant & The InVisible Force (2011) — guitar.
- Songs – Plácido Domingo (2012) — guitar.
- Musical Gifts from Joshua Bell and Friends (2013) — guitar.
- Shoulders – PT Walkley (2014) — primary guitars.
- Lost in the Stars: Live at 54 Below – Annaleigh Ashford (2015) — guitar.
- Dangerous Woman – Ariana Grande (2016) — guitar on “Jason’s Song (Gave It Away).”
- Incredibles 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2018) — guitar credited with orchestra.
- Jesus Christ Superstar: Live in Concert (2018, NBC live album) — music coordinator.
- Lagos Pepper Soup – Michael Olatuja (2020) — guitar on track 12.
- Reflect – Tom Kitt (2021) — guitar and contractor for select credits.
- Bill – William Shatner (2021) — strings contractor.