Why I Chose Backun
“I love my Lumière clarinets! They have impeccable intonation, evenness in all registers, and a flexibility that inspires me to be free as an artist and takes any worry out of the equation. I truly enjoy playing them more and more each day.”
About
Clarinetist Dr. Mark J. Cramer serves as the United States Clarinet Brand Ambassador for Backun Musical Services, representing Backun and Laskey at universities, festivals, conferences, orchestral institutions, and educational events throughout the country. Through artist engagement, educational outreach, and masterclasses, he works with performers, educators, students, and dealers while presenting Backun’s line of clarinets, mouthpieces, barrels, bells, and accessories.
An active performer, educator, and recording artist, Dr. Cramer currently serves as Principal Clarinet of the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra, Second Clarinet of the Nashville Opera, and clarinetist of the Khemia Ensemble for the 2026–2027 season. He also performs frequently with the Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga Symphonies.
Dr. Cramer’s career has encompassed orchestral and chamber performance, higher education, commercial recording, and artist relations. He has held faculty appointments at Tennessee Tech University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro College, Radford University, and Randolph College, teaching applied clarinet, chamber music, and woodwind methods. He is a former member of the Cumberland Quintet and has previously served as Principal Clarinet of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra and Third/Auxiliary Clarinet of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra for six seasons.
As a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral performer, Dr. Cramer has appeared throughout the United States and toured with the four-time Grammy Award-winning ensemble eighth blackbird. His career includes performances with numerous symphony orchestras and opera companies across the country.
Dr. Cramer is also an accomplished studio recording artist with the Nashville Scoring Orchestra, recording film, television, and video game soundtracks at many of Nashville’s premier recording facilities.
His professional interests include instrument acoustics, performance wellness, and the intersection of music and health. His doctoral research explored the acoustic properties of hardwoods in custom clarinet barrel design, leading to the development of his own line of custom barrels. He has also incorporated principles of physical fitness and performance psychology into his teaching and collaborated with the Arts and Health Program at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center to present outreach performances and educational programs.
A Michigan native, Dr. Cramer earned degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music (B.M.), the University of Michigan (M.M.), and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (D.M.A.). His principal teachers include Suzy Bratton, Richard Hawkins, Daniel Gilbert, Anthony Taylor, and Kelly Burke.
Dr. Cramer is a Backun Musical Services Artist and United States Clarinet Brand Ambassador, Légère Reeds Performing Artist, and Rovner Ambassador. He performs exclusively on Backun Lumière clarinets, Hawkins/Backun Signature mouthpieces, Légère synthetic reeds, and Rovner ligatures.
