Aaron Syrjanen: Versatile Guitarist, Session Musician and Working in the Music Theatre Scene

This week’s conversation is with special guest Aaron Syrjanen, a versatile guitarist and esteemed session musician based in Melbourne. I would love a family-tree type visualisation of the many musicians that Aaron speaks about in this episode; a great web of the music theatre musicians world and the expanding and linked connections to other areas of session musicians and artists in the Melbourne scene. Aaron is a very talented guitarist and we have a great conversation catching up on his experiences from the last few years. We discuss the stress and excitement of being a ‘dep’ on professional music theatre shows, go back to how he got started on guitar and all the different influences he’s had over the years.  Aaron's recent collaborations include work with notable artists such as Elly Poletti, Erin Cornell, Mayfield, Katie Weston, Les Gyori, Drew Downing, The Chantoozies, Ryan Ritchie, showcasing his broad range and adaptability. Aaron has also worked on the following musicals full time in Melbourne: Bring it On (2019), The Wedding Singer (2022), Elvis: A Musical Revolution (2023), and depped on Girl from North Country (Melbourne and Canberra), The Wedding Singer (Sydney), Hairspray, 9-5, Blume, and Moulin Rouge. Beyond performing, Aaron is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of musicians, teaching guitar at various schools across Melbourne. The conversation is now available on all streaming platforms, YouTube and our website. For more info and links to music, visit our website: aredrummersmusicians.com/conversations/aaronsyrjanen