Why I Chose Backun
“I love my MoBa 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
Dr. Mark J. Cramer joined the faculty at Tennessee Technological University as Assistant Professor of Clarinet in 2018 where he teaches studio clarinet, clarinet choir, is a member of the Cumberland Quintet, and performs as principal clarinetist of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra. His previous appointments include The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro College, Radford University, and Randolph College.
Dr. Cramer has performed numerous concertos and chamber music performances in addition to his tenure with the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra.
He toured with four-time, Grammy Award winning "eighth blackbird” and has frequently performed with orchestras located throughout the southeastern United States, including the Winston-Salem, Western Piedmont, Fayetteville, and Roanoke Symphonies, as well as orchestras in Michigan, and Ohio.
In addition to teaching and performing, Dr. Cramer has a passion for acoustics, fitness, and music therapy. His dissertation research focused on defining the acoustic properties of hardwoods in custom designs of his own line of custom clarinet barrels. His interest in fitness and physical activity takes his students to the highest level of musical performance with numerous benefits in the management of physiological and psychological changes people experience when performing under pressure. His beliefs about the healing power of music enabled a strong collaboration with the Arts and Health program at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where he performed weekly outreach concerts and classes.
A Michigan native, Mark holds degrees from The Oberlin Conservatory of Music (BM), The University of Michigan (MM), and The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (DMA). His principal teachers include Suzy Bratton, Richard Hawkins, Daniel Gilbert, Anthony Taylor, and Kelly Burke.
Mark is a Backun Musical Services performing artist and plays exclusively on Backun MoBa clarinets and mouthpieces crafted by Richard Hawkins.
For videos, recordings, and more information about Dr. Cramer, as well as information about studying clarinet at Tennessee Tech, please visit https://www.markjcramer.com.
