Crispin Campbell’s musical style reflects his individuality. In a typical performance he makes seamless transitions from J.S.Bach to Miles Davis to Astor Piazzolla, earning the label “a musician who defies categories.” His passion for playing all forms of music comes from his teenage years playing guitar in rock bands, to avant-garde string quartet playing in the San Francisco bay area. As a college student he discovered the cello and its vast repertoire of solo and chamber music. His major teachers were Margaret Rowell in Berkeley, CA and George Sopkin (Fine Arts Quartet) in Milwaukee, WI.
For many years, Crispin taught at Interlochen Arts Academy, performing numerous solo recitals and chamber music concerts throughout North and South America. His more than 250 cello students have professional careers worldwide, performing in award-winning string quartets, professional orchestras and teaching at music conservatories. He currently teaches at the Interlochen Cello Intensive and was recently Visiting Professor of Cello at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.
Since leaving Interlochen Arts Academy in 2018, Crispin finds himself enjoying playing in the Traverse City Philharmonic while also returning to his original interest in improvisation. His voice on the cello lives somewhere between the classical art song and Stephane Grapelli, with a dash of Frank Zappa. His current favorite project is the Mad Angler Trio, a crossover group of cello, dobro and piano, with a repertoire covering Bach, jazz standards, blues and world music.
Crispin’s affinity for collaboration brings him in contact with a wide variety of artists- from members of the Juilliard and Stradivari Quartets, to recording with poet Michael Delp, working with Martha Graham dancers in New York City, and playing with musicians such as cellist Eugene Friesen, violinist Jeremy Cohen, pianist Paul Sullivan, mandolinist Don Julin (Neptune Quartet) and numerous others. His recent recordings are with the Crispin Campbell Quartet (About Time) and with poet Michael Delp (The River Under the River).
Contact: crispincampbell@gmail.com