Biography
Craig Morris emerged on the international classical music scene by winning the prestigious position of Principal Trumpet in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, assuming that post from the legendary Adolph “Bud” Herseth in 2001. A desire to more fully focus on his own artistic projects, however, led Morris to leave his position with the CSO and pursue a career as a soloist and chamber musician. As a soloist, Morris has been featured with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, the Beijing Modern Music Festival, the Sacramento Symphony, and the Miami Bach Society, to name a few. Additionally, Morris has been a featured soloist at Carnegie Hall, the American Bandmasters Association Convention, and the International Computer Music Conference. In 2009, Craig gave the U.S. Premier of Desolation Wilderness, a trumpet concerto by the renowned British composer Joby Talbot, under the baton of Marin Alsop at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music.
A Texas native, Morris grew up in a musical family. He attended the University of Texas and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. His principal teachers include Ray Crisara (Professor, University of Texas), Glenn Fischthal (former Principal Trumpet, San Francisco Symphony), and Jim Wilt (Associate Principal Trumpet, Los Angeles Philharmonic). Morris is currently the Professor of Trumpet and Chair of the Brass Program at the University of Miami, Frost School of Music, where he devotes himself to his teaching and his career as a soloist and chamber musician.