‘The Dragon Dream Album’: Aaron Pergram and the sound of cultural connection

Aaron Pergram, assistant professor of Bassoon at Miami University, recently released a CD, “The Dragon Dream.”

What defines musical identity in a world where ideas, trends, and cultural movements are constantly evolving? In the case of Aaron Pergram, assistant professor of Bassoon at Miami University, the answer lies in the exploration and reimagining of tradition. His newly released CD, “The Dragon Dream,” draws from years of international performance and collaboration with a wide array of composers, ultimately forming a work that pushes the boundaries of music and culture.

This CD isn’t just the culmination of many years of touring and collaboration, but as Pergram describes it, his lifelong project of exploring music. Pergram felt drawn to music from a very young age. While he participated in both athletics and musical activities, Pergram’s interests more closely aligned with the artistic and creative side of things.

However, his moment of realization came when his school took a field trip to see a performance of “Peter and the Wolf,” in which each character is represented by a different instrument. He said when he heard the rich, deep sound of the bassoon that characterized the grandfather, he knew then music was exactly what he wished to pursue.

Pergram then began playing the bassoon for himself and went on to win many competitions and awards throughout his early childhood and into high school. He stated that he received extensive support from both family and friends which, when it came time for college, made his decision to continue pursuing the bassoon and the study of music an easy one.

Aaron Pergram's CD, "The Dragon Dream."

Pergram went on to study at three universities, earning a Bachelor of Music from the University of Kansas, a Master of Music from Indiana University, and ultimately a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Oregon. He credits his broad perspective across different musical areas to studying through these programs.

Yet his curiosity extended beyond the classroom; upon earning his degrees, Pergram decided to teach at Soochow University in Suzhou, China, for 5 years. This is where he discovered the core inspiration for his CD, “The Dragon Dream,” as he became deeply fascinated by the Chinese cultural belief of the “Dragon Within,” a philosophy centered on the idea that we, as humans, are all connected or pieces of something larger than ourselves, aka the Dragon. Though cultures may differ in tradition and belief, Pergram found a unifying truth woven throughout them – a shared emotional language expressed through music, art, and human experience.

From here, the idea for the CD was born. Pergram’s goal was to showcase these themes of culture and interconnectedness through an experimental album that combined Western instruments with traditional Chinese musical elements. Yet the path was anything but a straight one. As Pergram put it, “for any big project you start with an idea, and you’ll craft the project, make the guidelines, and stay true to it, and what happens in the end is nowhere near where you thought it was going to be.”

In Pergram’s case, he initially anticipated approaching each composer with a specific instrument behavior in mind and having them compose for that. In reality, the composers had many ideas of their own that they wished to incorporate into their pieces, and ultimately worked beautifully to showcase individuality. But turning this vision into reality required far more than alignment of the composers’ artistic ideas. As Pergram put it, “getting the project off the ground was the most difficult part.” Pergram not only had to connect the right individuals and processes to create this album, but also fund it all. This required extensive planning and fundraising from many different avenues, including grants from Miami University and the Ohio Arts Council.

With the project finally taking shape, Pergram turned his focus outward. What followed was a period of extensive international touring across five continents, during which Pergram presented the work to diverse audiences and gathered critical feedback that helped refine the album’s final form. He applied to festivals, conferences, and events, but upon acceptance, he had to coordinate who would be in front of these international critics to perform his pieces.

Once this refinement period was completed, it came time for the recording process. A common misconception is that artists have ample time to record their works once approved. However, in Pergram’s case, he was given three days, which, as he described, “was one of the most stressful periods of my life knowing that the years spent on this project could ultimately be for nothing if I didn’t complete the recording phase in time.” Yet even after the intensity of recording, another challenge remained: patience.

In the year that followed, Pergram was forced to wait as the album moved through its final stages of production, a process he described as both exciting and agonizing after years of work. Now, that long-awaited moment has arrived. “The Dragon Dream” is officially released, marking the culmination of a project shaped by global collaboration, artistic risk, and an enduring belief in the connective power of music.

“The Dragon Dream” is more than a musical achievement; it is a reflection of the philosophy that inspired it. This project illustrates how unique artistic sounds can come together to form a unified expression, just as different people come together to make up the “Dragon Within” or the larger cultural values of society. Pergram’s journey does not stop here, as he plans to continue making music to express ideas through art that he feels everyone should experience. For Pergram, the album is not a destination, but a continuation of a lifelong commitment to exploring how music can connect people across cultures.

“The Dragon Dream” will be available on streaming platforms in the coming weeks, but it is available for purchase now.

Established in 1809, Miami University is located in Oxford, Ohio, with regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, a learning center in West Chester, and a European study center in Luxembourg. Interested in learning more about the College of Creative Arts? Visit the website for more information.