Aron Magner
Encyclopedia
Aron Magner is a Philadelphia-based musician best known as the keyboardist and founding member of The Disco Biscuits. Magner and The Disco Biscuits have been instrumental in bringing live and studio improvisational, electronic-based music to the forefront of the live music scene and, increasingly, to popular culture.
before more aggressively pursuing a career as a musician.
On October 16, 2010 Magner married Angelika Bekerman, formerly of New York, NY, in Brighton Beach
, after a proposal earlier that year at New York City’s “public piano” in Herald Square that was featured in New York Magazine. They live in Philadelphia, PA.
, Pink Floyd
, The Doors
, and similar artists. All of these influences remain present and noticeable in Magner’s style to this day and, ultimately, help steer the various bands and projects he is involved with.
After graduating from Lower Merion High School
, Magner enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania, where Marc Brownstein
and Jon Gutwillig
had begun casually playing in musical jam sessions together. As a Philadelphia native, Magner’s reputation as a talented jazz keyboardist preceded him, and it was not long before the three began playing fraternity parties and other social events, often under different names each night such as “Party Tent.” This was the beginnings of The Disco Biscuits. To date, Magner is the only member of The Disco Biscuits to perform in all of the band’s public performances.
In 1999, Magner and The Disco Biscuits founded the now-annual Camp Bisco music festival, which began with an attendance of 900 and had grown to a sold out capacity of 25,000 in 2011. It now features a number of headlining U.S. and international acts, and was featured in The New York Times
and other publications as a model for bands in the changing music industry. The Disco Biscuits, through the creation of Camp Bisco, by headlining events at famed venues such as Red Rocks Amphitheater amidst national touring, and by creating destination festivals such as Caribbean Holidaze, have been instrumental in bringing live and studio improvisational, electronic-based music to the live music scene and to popular culture.
Magner has also contributed to, and been a member of, other bands such as: Conspirator, Electron, Braindamaged Eggmen, The Join, and Acoustic Again.
In 2011, Magner and other partners formed Aorta, Inc., a management label with the goal of signing established, as well as promising and emerging musical talent. Magner and The Disco Biscuits also began renting out the studio space they own in Center City Philadelphia in hopes of giving local musicians a cutting edge place to work.
Magner has been active in supporting a number of nonprofit organizations tied to the live music scene, including HeadCount
. In March 2010, Magner and The Disco Biscuits performed a benefit concert at Brooklyn’s Brooklyn Bowl which generated the revenue needed to fund and install a $30,000 solar energy system at Greenfield Elementary, a public school located in Center City Philadelphia. Magner and The Disco Biscuits were very involved with selecting the Greenfield project, and helped ensure its completion. The project was orchestrated by HeadCount.
Personal life
Magner grew up in Lower Merion, PA, the son of Alan Magner, a physician, and Adele Magner, a philanthropist and educator. Magner has one sister, Jana. From a young age, Magner was classically trained on the piano. Magner was enrolled in the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
before more aggressively pursuing a career as a musician.
On October 16, 2010 Magner married Angelika Bekerman, formerly of New York, NY, in Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach
Brighton Beach is an oceanside neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. As of 2000, it has a population of 75,692 with a total of 31,228 households.-Location:...
, after a proposal earlier that year at New York City’s “public piano” in Herald Square that was featured in New York Magazine. They live in Philadelphia, PA.
Career
Magner’s early musical influences included jazz and classical music, and led him to formal piano training. Soon after, he discovered David BowieDavid Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
, Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
, and similar artists. All of these influences remain present and noticeable in Magner’s style to this day and, ultimately, help steer the various bands and projects he is involved with.
After graduating from Lower Merion High School
Lower Merion High School
Lower Merion High School, is an American public high school in Ardmore, a community on the Pennsylvania Main Line.It is the larger of the two high schools in Lower Merion School District, which serves both Lower Merion Township and the Borough of Narberth. It was ranked among the top 60 U.S. high...
, Magner enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania, where Marc Brownstein
Marc Brownstein
Marc "Brownie" Brownstein is the founder and bassist of Philadelphia-based jamtronica band, The Disco Biscuits. He is also a co-founder and co-chair of voter registration group, HeadCount, as well as the host of weekly radio show, "Jamtronica," on Sirius Satellite Radio's jamband channel, Jam...
and Jon Gutwillig
Jon Gutwillig
Jon "The Barber" Gutwillig, Born April 1, 1974 in Basking Ridge, NJ, is the founder and guitarist for the trance fusion jam band The Disco Biscuits. Since his part in founding the biscuits in 1995, Jon and bassist Marc Brownstein mostly share songwriting duties. Jon penned the rock opera Hot Air...
had begun casually playing in musical jam sessions together. As a Philadelphia native, Magner’s reputation as a talented jazz keyboardist preceded him, and it was not long before the three began playing fraternity parties and other social events, often under different names each night such as “Party Tent.” This was the beginnings of The Disco Biscuits. To date, Magner is the only member of The Disco Biscuits to perform in all of the band’s public performances.
In 1999, Magner and The Disco Biscuits founded the now-annual Camp Bisco music festival, which began with an attendance of 900 and had grown to a sold out capacity of 25,000 in 2011. It now features a number of headlining U.S. and international acts, and was featured in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
and other publications as a model for bands in the changing music industry. The Disco Biscuits, through the creation of Camp Bisco, by headlining events at famed venues such as Red Rocks Amphitheater amidst national touring, and by creating destination festivals such as Caribbean Holidaze, have been instrumental in bringing live and studio improvisational, electronic-based music to the live music scene and to popular culture.
Magner has also contributed to, and been a member of, other bands such as: Conspirator, Electron, Braindamaged Eggmen, The Join, and Acoustic Again.
In 2011, Magner and other partners formed Aorta, Inc., a management label with the goal of signing established, as well as promising and emerging musical talent. Magner and The Disco Biscuits also began renting out the studio space they own in Center City Philadelphia in hopes of giving local musicians a cutting edge place to work.
Charitable
Magner serves on the Board of Directors of Philadelphia Young Playwrights, along with his father Alan, an organization that his mother Adele founded. The program features a "groundbreaking" curriculum to inspire students’ literacy, learning, and creativity through playwriting and a love of the arts.Magner has been active in supporting a number of nonprofit organizations tied to the live music scene, including HeadCount
HeadCount
HeadCount is a nonpartisan organization that works with musicians to promote participation in democracy in the US. It is best known for registering voters at concerts – having signed up 175,000 voters since its launch in 2004. It also encourages voter turnout and general civic participation...
. In March 2010, Magner and The Disco Biscuits performed a benefit concert at Brooklyn’s Brooklyn Bowl which generated the revenue needed to fund and install a $30,000 solar energy system at Greenfield Elementary, a public school located in Center City Philadelphia. Magner and The Disco Biscuits were very involved with selecting the Greenfield project, and helped ensure its completion. The project was orchestrated by HeadCount.