Aaron Manswell

Assistant Professor of Music, Industry & Technology

College of Arts, School of Fine Art and Music

About

Aaron Manswell is an award-winning Canadian composer whose soulful, genre-defying music paints vivid contemporary soundscapes. His works – spanning classical, R&B, hip-hop, and gospel – have been premiered by leading ensembles across North America and Asia, including the San Francisco Symphony, the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, and Choral Arts Initiative, whose album Tapestry of Becoming (featuring his piece "Stick with Love") debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Traditional Classical chart. This song was also performed at Carnegie Hall in June 2026, marking the debut of Manswell’s music at the illustrious venue. A 2022 Grand Philharmonic Choir composition contest winner, 2023 ACDA Brock Prize and 2026 Stephen Chatman Award finalist, Manswell was featured in the Canadian Opera Company’s Showcase Series and was the 2024/2025 season Composer-in-Residence for the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. An in-demand producer and keyboardist for award-winning pop artists, he also composes for film and holds degrees from Oakwood University, the University of Memphis, and graduated from the University of Toronto with a Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition. He is Assistant Professor of Music, Industry & Technology at the University of Guelph.

Visit aaronmanswell.com to learn more and purchase his music.

Education

Bachelor of Music, Composition & Recording Arts (Oakwood University)

Master of Music, Composition (University of Memphis)

Doctor of Musical Arts, Composition (University of Toronto)

Publications

Manswell, A. (2026). The Only One. Off-Spring Music Inc.

https://www.aaronmanswell.com/store/p/the-only-one-satb-piano

Manswell, A. (Arranger), Johnson, J. W. (Lyricist), Johnson, J. R. (Composer). (2025). Lift Every Voice and Sing. The Royal Conservatory. Voice Repertoire 5 (2025 ed., pp. 15-17). RCM Publishing.

https://shop.rcmusic.com/products/voice-repertoire-5?srsltid=AfmBOoqpeVDuwb1B76eMAWUseb_ReSrkxMwUBHSBlCCySCjVXoxFz9cC

Manswell, A. (2025). One Thing at a Time. Off-Spring Music Inc.

https://www.aaronmanswell.com/store/p/one-thing-at-a-time-satb-a-capella

Manswell, A. (2025). Good News. Gentry Publications.

https://www.gentrypublications.com/product/good-news-all-products-2/

Manswell, A. (Composer & Lyricist), Hughes, L. (Lyricist). (2025). My People. Gentry Publications.

https://www.gentrypublications.com/product/my-people-ssaa/

Manswell, A. (2024). Poverty. Off-Spring Music Inc.

https://www.aaronmanswell.com/store/p/poverty-full-score-string-ensemble-parts

Manswell, A. (Composer & Lyricist), King Jr., M. L. (Lyricist). (2022). Stick with Love. Off-Spring Music Inc.

https://www.aaronmanswell.com/store/p/stick-with-love-satb-at-duet-piano

In the Media

Ludwig Van Toronto - PREVIEW: "Sistema Toronto, Composer Aaron Manswell & The Nathaniel Dett Chorale Get Together In Concert"

https://classicalfm.ca/ludwig-van/toronto/2026/05/22/preview-sistema-toronto-composer-aaron-manswell-the-nathaniel-dett-chorale-get-together-in-concert

Sistema Toronto - Creative Collaboration: "Sistema Toronto Students’ Engagement with Aaron Manswell and the Nathaniel Dett Chorale" by Kelsey Vivash

https://sistema-toronto.ca/creative-collaboration-blog/?utm_campaign=feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=later-linkinbio&fbclid=PAVERFWARKd4RleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAac4SalmcK14YfBC72iowaPRW_rGQ1xSASdFSdO-atdFNIIHmh3j8lWEOKJS2g_aem_KtyMX6iT3bgM3roVkGRGRA

GuelphToday - "Aaron Manswell to lead final 2025 Music Speaks workshop in Guelph" by GuelphToday Staff

https://www.guelphtoday.com/local-news/aaron-manswell-to-lead-final-2025...

University of Toronto Faculty of Music - "University of Toronto Faculty of Music Gospel Choir released its debut single, “Do You See Them?”

https://music.utoronto.ca/news/university-toronto-faculty-music-gospel-choir-released-its-debut-single-“do-you-see-them”?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleAOlPltleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAacE3WEfPv0Tb444y76SjdMYRVAuh1pO9jIMhVoGHwJNf3y-tDnLxlqi9eMIEA_aem_0AYAAaWwiw-nism2d9MdXA

Toronto Mendelssohn Choir - "Music with Purpose: Composer-in-Residence Aaron Manswell on His Latest Composition" by Yasaman Nouri

https://www.tmchoir.org/music-with-purpose-composer-in-residence-aaron-m...

Ludwig Van Toronto - SCRUTINY: "Toronto Mendelssohn Choir’s 25th Anniversary Festival Of Carols Is A Joyous Affair"

https://classicalfm.ca/ludwig-van/toronto/2024/12/04/scrutiny-toronto-mendelssohn-choirs-25th-anniversary-festival-of-carols-is-a-joyous-affair

Ludwig Van Toronto - SCRUTINY: "Composer Aaron Manswell's Work Shines in Toronto Mendelssohn Choir Season Opener" by Hye Won Cecelia Lee

https://classicalfm.ca/ludwig-van/toronto/2024/11/04/scrutiny-composer-aaron-manswells-work-shines-in-toronto-mendelssohn-choir-season-opener

Toronto Symphony Orchestra - "Inspiring Young Hearts & Minds: A Look inside Our Partnership with Sistema Toronto" by TSO

https://www.tso.ca/noteworthy/inspiring-young-hearts-and-minds

Ludwig Van Toronto - THE SCOOP: "Sistema Toronto Students Create a Hip-Hop Single and Learn About the Power of Music" by Anya Wassenberg

https://classicalfm.ca/ludwig-van/toronto/2024/06/10/the-scoop-sistema-toronto-students-create-a-hip-hop-single-and-learn-about-the-power-of-music

Choirs Ontario - Dynamic Magazine: "A Conversation with Two Canadian Choral Composers" by Thomas Corken

https://choirsontario.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/DYNAMIC_June2022-2.pdf

Grand Philharmonic Choir - "Composer Aaron Manswell wins GPC Composition Competition" by Grand Philharmonic Choir

https://grandphilchoir.com/2022/02/25/composer-aaron-manswell-wins-gpc-c...

Rogers TV - The Players Corner with Karim Grant: "One on One with Aaron Manswell"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyKvrONMJCg