Biography

Virtuoso clarinetist — Bryan A. Crumpler is one of America's most forthcoming young artists in the world of classical music. An alumni Morehead Scholar & graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, he is inching his way to the forefront as a concert soloist, recitalist, orchestral clarinetist & chamber musician of the 21st century. Dabbling in everything from pure Classical (Contemporary & Traditional) to Klezmer, Dixieland, Jazz, R&B Easy Listening, & Avant Garde, there is no work too daunting for Bryan Crumpler. To date, he has performed internationally to critical acclaim throughout the USA, England, France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium & the Netherlands; & he continues to make his mark on the international scene. Projects in upcoming seasons will additionally bring him to countries such as Russia, Romania, Italy, Norway, Spain, and the Czech Republic.

Described as charismatic, personal, emotional, dizzying, dazzling in pure artistry... the list goes on... Crumpler’s performances have earned acclaim from critics of organizations such as the Music Critics Association of North America, San Diego Union Tribune, Houston Chronicle, Raleigh News & Observer, Classical USA, Spectator Magazine, Classical Voice North Carolina, Durham Herald-Sun, Morges Journal in Switzerland, & Fanfare. Furthermore, he has earned esteemed recognition from virtuosi Andrew Marriner (son of Sir. Neville Marriner & Principal Clarinetist of the London Symphony Orchestra); Freddy Arteel (retired Principal Clarinetist of the Royal Philharmonic of Flanders in Antwerp); & Juilliard faculty Charles Neidich, Ayako Oshima, & Alan Kay, who are not only taken by his technical facility, but also particularly impressed with his trademark sense of expressiveness.

An impressive collection of honors fills Crumpler’s pockets, including invitations to the Summerscape Music Festival in New York, CineCity Flissingen Concert Series in Holland, the 50th Anniversary Gala Celebrating African Americans at the University of North Carolina, as well as the Summer Tour of the National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands. He is also a laureate of the Houston Symphony’s Ima Hogg National Young Artist Competition (YAC) – which boasts judges such as Anne Marie McDermott, Sidney Harth, Vlademir Ashkenazy, & Andre Previn; & a trail of prize winners such as Van Cliburn, David McKelway, Hakan Rosengren, Ralph Kirshbaum, Patrick Messina, Todd Palmer, David Bilger, Stephanie Chase, Christina Jennings & Igor Begelmann. Top prizes & honors have additionally been earned in the New Amsterdam Symphony’s National YAC in New York City, William C. Byrd International YAC in Michigan, International Sorantin Award YAC in Texas, East & West Artists Int’l Competition for Carnegie Hall Debut (also New York), Contemporary Record Society Nat’l Performers Competition (Pennsylvania), Rotary Club of Ghent's Nat’l Soloists & Chamber Music Competition (Belgium), Royal Conservatory of Ghent Solo Auditions (Belgium), Richard Deas Concerto Competition sponsored by the Wilmington Symphony, UNCSO Concerto Competition sponsored by UNC Chapel Hill’s Music Dept., & the Benjamin Kilgore Gibbs Concerto Competition sponsored by the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra. These honors have been earned by competing amongst some of the best international talent in classical music – including Avery Fisher Career Grantees & laureates of world renown international competitions such as the Geneva International Competition, International Neilson Clarinet and Violin Competitions, ARD Munich Competition, Queen Elisabeth International Competition, Concert Artists Guild, & Heida Hermanns International Woodwind Competition.

Crumpler’s teachers have been Professor Donald Oehler & Dr. Michael Votta of UNC Chapel Hill under which time he also worked with distinguished artists Andrew Marriner (LSO), Freddy Arteel (Cours Internationale de Musique), & David Campbell (Canterbury Christ Church College of London). In the 2004-05 season, he received a fellowship from the Ministry of the Flemish Community to do an artist residency under the tutelage of Leblanc Artist Eddy Vanoosthuyse at the Royal Conservatory of Belgium in Ghent. Crumpler has also been coached by Jimmy Gilmore (principal of the North Carolina Symphony), Todd Palmer (internationally renown YCA artist), Dr. Nathan Williams (Interlochen/former Professor of Clarinet, East Carolina Univ.), Dr. Ray McClellan (UMSC President’s Own & Univ. of Georgia), & Dr. Kelly Burke (Professor of Clarinet, UNC-Greensboro).