James Campbell, clarinet

Clarinetist James Campbell will be presenting a comprehensive class on the two Brahms clarinet sonatas using a contemporary description of Brahms's playing and how it relates to these compositions. This class references Brahms’ letters, correspondence with Clara Schumann as well as her documentation of his works, and recordings that highlight Brahms’ “true” intentions in his compositions. While the class is focused on Brahms’ clarinet sonatas and should interest clarinetists and pianists especially, all are welcome and can benefit from the insight into Brahms’ works.

About the Artist

James Campbell has been called “Canada’s preeminent clarinetist and wind soloist" by the Toronto Star, "Canada's premiere clarinetist" by the Ottawa Citizen and “a national treasure” by the CBC.

James Campbell has performed as soloist and chamber musician in over 35 countries with over 60 orchestras including the Boston Pops, Montreal Symphony and the London Symphony. He has collaborated with Glenn Gould and Aaron Copland and toured with over 35 string quartets, including the Guarneri, Amadeus (when he replaced an ailing Benny Goodman on a tour of California) and Vermeer.

Of his over 40 recordings, the BBC and The Times of London rated his recording of the Brahms Clarinet Quintet as the best available and his CD Stolen Gems (Marquis Records) won a Juno.

He has been named Canada’s Artist of the Year, awarded the Queen’s Gold and Diamond Jubilee Medal, an Honorary Doctor of Laws, the Order of Canada and  has recently been inducted into the CBC’s Classical Music Hall of Fame.

James Campbell has been Artistic Director of the Festival of the Sound since 1985 and has been Professor of Music at the famed Jacobs School of Music, of Indiana University since 1988. He regularly gives master classes throughout the world and is a Selmer Paris Artist.