Craig Morris
Encyclopedia
Craig Morris is a world-renowned orchestral trumpeter. He is widely known for serving as the Principal Trumpet
of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
. He is also known as a critically acclaimed soloist and chamber musician. He is an endorsing artist for the New York Trumpet Company, and is currently Professor of Trumpet at the University of Miami
.
player. After high school he attended the University of Texas and received his Bachelor of Music. In 1991 he received a Master of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory.
. He obtained the position of Principal Trumpet in the Sacramento Symphony Orchestra, Opera, and Ballet from 1994-1996. From 1998-2001 he was Associate Principal Trumpet for the San Francisco Symphony
. In 1998 Craig Morris also had a short stint with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as Fourth/Utility trumpet. In 2001 he was named Principal Trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at only 32 years of age. He has also appeared as a solo artist with the Austin Handel-Haydn Society, Diablo Symphony Orchestra, and the San Francisco Old & New Music Ensemble.
Mr. Morris is currently the Professor of Trumpet at the University of Miami, Frost School of Music. Morris spends each August performing as Principal Trumpet at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, having been appointed by Music Director Marin Alsop in 2007.
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1891, the Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival...
. He is also known as a critically acclaimed soloist and chamber musician. He is an endorsing artist for the New York Trumpet Company, and is currently Professor of Trumpet at the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
.
History
Craig Morris was born in 1968 in Texas. He received much musical influence from his father, a local band director and tubaTuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
player. After high school he attended the University of Texas and received his Bachelor of Music. In 1991 he received a Master of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory.
Career
Craig Morris was a member of the Pinnacle Brass Quintet from 1991–1994, as well as a member of Dallas BrassDallas Brass
The Dallas Brass is a brass quintet started by Michael Levine in 1983. Its repertoire contains patriotic music, classical, and romantic, among others....
. He obtained the position of Principal Trumpet in the Sacramento Symphony Orchestra, Opera, and Ballet from 1994-1996. From 1998-2001 he was Associate Principal Trumpet for the San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco Symphony
The San Francisco Symphony is an orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980, the orchestra has performed at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus are part of the organization...
. In 1998 Craig Morris also had a short stint with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as Fourth/Utility trumpet. In 2001 he was named Principal Trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at only 32 years of age. He has also appeared as a solo artist with the Austin Handel-Haydn Society, Diablo Symphony Orchestra, and the San Francisco Old & New Music Ensemble.
Mr. Morris is currently the Professor of Trumpet at the University of Miami, Frost School of Music. Morris spends each August performing as Principal Trumpet at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, having been appointed by Music Director Marin Alsop in 2007.
Major performances
- Soloist with the Chicago Symphony, playing Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 and Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du Soldat.
- Solo artist at the Ravinia Festival.
- Performed the world premier of Thom Sleeper's Concerto for Trumpet.