2008-09 Featured Soloist
Arthur Campbell
Internationally acclaimed clarinetist, Arthur Campbell has toured extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia, has performed in some of the world's most prestigious venues, and has a celebrated solo recording career.
Reviews in leading publications consistently rank Campbell as one of the world's leading clarinet virtuosos. In 2007 alone Campbell's recording, Brahms: Clarinet Chamber Music, on the prestigious German audiophile label Audite, won the Supersonic Award in Belgium, the Magnifique Award in France and the Recomendado in Spain. Germany's Ensemble magazine raves, "stirring for both heart and mind..." while Audiophile Audition states "expressive intimacy on a high order of execution – potent rainy-day music... for ambiance, intimacy, and audiophile presence in your Brahms library, you need only acquire this fine disc." Opus magazine (France) writes "Campbell finds a beautiful instrumental balance for a musical message of remarkable expressive wealth." while Fanfare magazine exclaims "exquisite playing".
In addition to his highly praised performances of the standard canon, Arthur Campbell is recognized as one of the leading champions of contemporary repertoire of his generation and has had pieces written expressly for him by some of today's most distinguished composers. He has recorded three acclaimed CD's featuring new works.
Campbell's live performances have been broadcast internationally on over 400 radio stations, and on the worldwide broadcasts of the Web Concert Hall Series. Also in great demand as a master teacher, Dr. Campbell has presented master classes at leading universities, conservatories, festivals and conventions throughout the world.
Campbell has won numerous international and national competitions and received the Doctor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Northwestern University, where he studied with renowned clarinetist and pedagogue Robert Marcellus. Campbell holds the distinction of being one of only three people ever to have completed a doctoral degree as a student of the late Marcellus. A native of Canada, Campbell grew up in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. He now lives in the US, having been recruited to the Artist-Faculty of Grand Valley State University in Michigan where he has built a thriving studio of clarinet students from around the globe. Arthur Campbell plays Leblanc, Opus II clarinets, and the AC custom mouthpiece made by Dave Knox.
Arthur will be performing Carl Maria von Weber's Concerto No. 2 for Clarinet and Orchestra in Eb Major,
Op. 74 at the following venues:
- Tuesday, August 26 in Wolfville at Wolfville Baptist Church
- Wednesday, August 27 in Halifax at the McNally Auditorium, St. Mary's University