Aaron McCalla

Aaron McCalla, a native of Dallas, TX, has performed around the world in orchestras as a soloist, as a chamber musician, and in rock bands. In 2022 he became Principal Tuba of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. McCalla comes to the San Diego Symphony from the Naples Philharmonic, where he has been Principal Tuba for the past 17 years. Before that, he was the Principal Tuba for the Colorado Symphony for 3 years. In addition, Mr. McCalla has performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony, toured with the Boston Pops, and also performed with the orchestras of Albany, Vermont, Rhode Island, Jacksonville, Tampa and Sarasota. He was the Tanglewood Music Center Tuba Fellow in 2005.

Mr. McCalla has performed as a soloist in multiple capacities, including with the Naples Philharmonic, the Colorado Symphony, Musica Sacra, and as a recitalist in many venues. He was also the featured soloist in Carnegie Hall with the Florida Gulf Coast University Wind Orchestra. Mr. McCalla studied at the Juilliard School, the New England Conservatory and Southern Methodist University.

Outside of his orchestral duties, Mr. McCalla was a founding member of the band LNE, based in Antigua, Guatemala, and the Kate Priestley Band, based in Austin, Texas. Aaron and his family consider themselves to be very lucky to join the San Diego Symphony during such an exciting time for the organization!