Jason Crafton: trumpet, jazz studies

Jason Crafton is visiting assistant professor of trumpet at Virginia Tech. Prior to his appointment he taught at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, North Central Texas College, University of Northern Colorado, and Dallas-Fort Worth area public schools. In addition, he has presented clinics and masterclasses at the Colorado All-State Music Festival, Oklahoma State University, and University of Wyoming. His students have frequently been selected to Texas All-State and All-Region ensembles and have been accepted into undergraduate and graduate programs across the country.

Crafton holds degrees from Drake University, University of Northern Colorado, and University of North Texas. His primary teachers include Andrew Classen, Robert Murray, Adam Gordon (Baroque trumpet), and Keith Johnson.

As a performer he has appeared professionally with a wide variety of ensembles, including the Des Moines Metropolitan Opera, Cheyenne Symphony, Wyoming Symphony, Mannheim Steamroller, Bigfork Summer Playhouse, Dallas Wind Symphony, and Dallas Opera. These experiences have been augmented by the opportunity to perform, record, and tour with the North Texas Wind Symphony and University of Northern Colorado’s Jazz Lab Band One. He can be heard on numerous recordings on the Mark and GIA labels, including nearly a dozen releases by the North Texas Wind Symphony and four volumes of Teaching Music Through Performance in Band.

Crafton is a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda and Phi Kappa Phi academic honor societies, as well as Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Additionally, he is active in the International Trumpet Guild as a contributor to the ITG Journal and as program director for the 2012 ITG Convention in Columbus, Georgia.