Will Campbell

Biography:

North Carolina native Will Campbell is director of Jazz Studies and professor of Saxophone. He completed a Doctor of Musical Arts in Saxophone Performance and Literature from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor of Music (Jazz Studies) and Master of Music (Saxophone Performance) from the University of North Texas, where he was a member of the One O’Clock Lab Band and directed the Three O’Clock Lab Band.

From 1990 to 1994, he toured internationally as a member of the Harry Connick Jr. Orchestra. Recording credits include Blue Light, Red Light, When My Heart Finds Christmas, and The New York Big Band Concert (Video). In 2007, Campbell released Think Tank (Cellar Live Records), his debut recording as a leader and composer. Campbell is a member of Unhinged Sextet, a cooperative jazz ensemble that has released two recordings on OA2 Records, Clarity and Don’t Blink.

In 1995, he was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Fellowship Grant, which allowed him to study privately with renowned saxophonist Dick Oatts in New York City. Campbell has been invited to direct All-State Jazz Bands in New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina and North Carolina and has performed at conferences for the North American Saxophone Alliance, International Association for Jazz Education, the Jazz Education Network and the World Saxophone Congress.

His arrangements and compositions are available through University of Northern Colorado Jazz Press and Dorn Publications. Campbell is an artist/clinician for the Conn-Selmer Company and a performing artist for D’Addario Reeds and endorses these products exclusively.

Highest Degree:

D.M.A.

Highest Degree Institution:

University of Illinois

College/Organization:

College of Arts + Architecture