Austin Ahlborn is a graduate student, bassoonist, educator, and researcher based in Hilliard, Ohio. He is currently enrolled as a Master’s student at The Ohio State University pursuing a Master of Public Administration and Master of Arts in Music Education and serves as the Leadership Programs GTA for the Office of Student Life. He previously served as the Director of Bands for the Fairbanks Local School District (2021-2024) and the Lincolnview Local School District (2019-2021). As a public school educator, Ahlborn directed and instructed 5th-12th grade students in concert band, marching band, and pep band settings. He is an active member of NAfME and OMEA, and his students have consistently received superior ratings at solo and ensemble contest.

As a bassoonist and contrabassoonist, Ahlborn studied with Paula Aronoff and Karen Pierson. He has performed as a member of the Heisey Wind Ensemble, the Ohio State University Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra, the McConnell Arts Center Chamber Orchestra, the Westerville Symphony, and at the International Music Master Courses in Cividale del Friuli, Italy as a soloist and chamber musician. In addition, Ahlborn has performed on the clarinet and alto saxophone as a pit musician for local high school and community musical productions.

During his final year at The Ohio State University, Ahlborn completed an undergraduate research thesis titled, “The Double Reed Project: Recruitment, Instruction, and Retainment of Double Reed Instrumentalists at the 6th – 12th Grade Level” under the supervision of Dr. David Hedgecoth. Ahlborn’s current research interests center around the influence of nonprofit organizations on the music education space and how our current institutions can better bolster educators and students.