Aidan Plank

Aidan Plank is an Assistant Teaching Professor of bass and jazz at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) College of Musical Arts. He specializes in double bass, electric bass, and jazz composition. Plank has been active with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra since 2013, collaborating with artists like Joe Lovano and Maria Schneider. He leads the ensemble Pulse, exploring original compositions and midwestern jazz influences. Plank’s work spans performances at Carnegie Hall, Severance Hall, and Blossom Music Center.

Education: Master of Music in Jazz Studies from Youngstown State University and Bachelor of Science in Biology from Cleveland State University. He studied double bass under Dave Morgan (YSU) and Kevin Switalski (Cleveland Orchestra).

Research interests focus on jazz performance, ensemble collaboration, and pedagogy. His compositions are featured with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and Third Law Collective, a composers’ group in Cleveland.

As an educator, Plank taught jazz bass at Kent State University (2016–2024) and the Tri-C Jazzfest Academy (2015–2021). He has adjudicated at Maple Rock and Lakeland Jazz Festivals and led masterclasses at Chicago School of the Arts and BGSU.

Labs/Teams: Pulse (with Brad Wagner, Anthony Fuoco, Dustin May), Third Law Collective (residency at The Bop Stop).