Crispin Campbell

About Crispin

Crispin Campbell's musical style reflects his individuality. In a typical performance he makes seamless transitions from Bach cello suites and Beethoven sonatas to Sun Ra and Django Reinhardt, earning him the label: "A musician who defies categories."

In June 2018 Crispin left his position at Interlochen Arts Academy after 38 years in order to pursue his diverse musical interests more fully. His list of former students includes professionals in orchestras, chamber groups and conservatories worldwide, such as the Kronos and Telegraph Quartets, the Seattle, Atlanta, Dallas, San Antonio, Grand Rapids, Winnipeg (Canada), Valencia (Spain) and Bergen (Norway)symphonies, the Cleveland Institute of Music and Grand Valley State University, among others.

A native Californian, he resides in Traverse City, Michigan. Crispin teaches at the Interlochen Cello Institute (June), and appears at the CLAZZ Music Festival in Arcidosso, Italy (July-August), exploring the connections between classical string playing and jazz. Recent appearances include the complete Brandenburg Concertos of J.S. Bach in Traverse City, playing in a string section for the 50th anniversary concerts of the funk band Tower of Power in Oakland, California, and performing and teaching at the Semana de las Cuerdas in Medellin, Colombia.

His first solo cello recording with a jazz trio "About Time", and a collection of improvisations with Michigan poet Michael Delp, "The River Under the River" were released in 2020.