Dr. Brandon Craswell holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in trumpet performance from Indiana University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kentucky. Currently he is Professor of Trumpet at University of Georgia, in Athens, Georgia where he teaches and performs with the Georgia Brass Quintet.
In demand as an orchestral musician, Craswell performs regularly with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Opera, the Iris Orchestra, and the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. Additional orchestral engagements have included playing with the Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Honolulu, and Virginia Symphonies, including a performance at Carnegie Hall with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. In the summer of 2010, he played principal trumpet with the Santiago, Chile Philharmonic. He was also a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago for two seasons, working with Adolph Herseth, former principal trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for over fifty years.
An International Trumpet Guild prize winner, Craswell spent a year playing trumpet on the North American tour of the Broadway musical 42nd St. He has been a featured soloist at numerous international festivals, including the Aspen Music Festival, the International Trumpet Guild Conference, and the International Romantic Trumpet Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia. He has also shared the stage with pianist Olga Kern and the National Gallery of Art Chamber Orchestra.
Craswell’s recent recording, Levy on Levy’s Cornet was released to critical acclaim, with Fanfare Magazine stating: “It is not just Craswell’s playing that exhilarates: the combination of sterling virtuosity, informed performances and historical context (plus the use of Levy’s own cornet) is both bracing and inspiring. A triumph of a release.”
Aside from performing throughout the United States, Craswell has performed and taught in Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Kenya, Italy, Spain and Russia. During the summers Craswell can be found teaching at the Apex trumpet symposium as a core teaching artist. Craswell is a Bach performing artist.