Biography
Named “Canada’s next big cello star” by CBC Music and the 2019-20 Classical Revelation artist of Radio-Canada, Canadian cellist Cameron Crozman is making a name for himself both at home and internationally. Performing recitals and chamber music across Canada and the USA as well as over in Europe, engagements have taken him to such world-renowned venues as the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, Berliner Philharmonie, Paris Philharmonie, Philadelphia’s Mann Centre, and Canada’s National Arts Centre. As the recipient of the Canada Council Michael Measure’s prize, he was the featured soloist with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and conductor Alain Trudel during their 2012 tour of Canada and the USA. He has appeared as a soloist with major orchestras across Canada including the Montreal, Winnipeg, Quebec, Hamilton, and Vancouver Island Symphonies under the direction of conductors including Gemma New, Fabien Gabel, and Edwin Outwater.
An avid collaborator and chamber musician, Cameron regularly shares the stage with world-renowed artists including James Ehnes, Augustin Hadelich, Boris Giltburg, Martin Beaver, Inon Barnatan, James Campbell, Hue Watkins, Gerard Caussé, and members of the Ébène, New Zealand, and Penderecki String Quartets. He regularly appears at festivals around the world such as the Seattle Chamber Music Festival, Ottawa Chamberfest, Toronto Summer Music Festival, Montreal Chamber Music Festival, Helsinki Musica Nova, Birmingham Frontiers Festival, and Musique et Vin festival at Clos Vougeot in Burgundy. His performances have been broadcast on CBC/Radio-Canada, Radio France, Radio Classique, and Medici.tv.
Cameron’s debut album, Cavatine, recorded on the ca. 1696 “Bonjour” Stradivarius cello, was released to critical acclaim in 2019 and described by the French publication Classica Magazine as displaying “technical perfection with a personal style that leaves us wanting to hear more.” His most recent solo recording of the Britten Cello Suites, debuted in Monaco in the presence of Princess Caroline of Hannover, is already garnering similar praise, receiving highest marks from Diapason Magazine, one of the world’s leading classical music publications.
Cameron was one of 6 cellists from around the world chosen to take part in Gautier Capuçon’s 2016-17 Classe d’Excellence at the Louis Vuitton Foundation. After studies with Paul Pulford in Canada, he spent six years abroad at the Paris Conservatoire. There he received his 2e Cycle Supérieur Conférant le Grade de Master (Master’s level) in cello with highest honours in the class of Michel Strauss and Guillaume Paoletti, while concurrently completing his master’s level in Chamber music in the class of Claire Désert and Ami Flammer and an Artist Diploma in contemporary repertoire and creation. He has played in masterclass for world-leading cellists, including Janos Starker, Anner Bylsma, Lawrence Lesser, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Gary Hoffman, Richard Aaron, and Colin Carr. Passionate about teaching the next generation, he has been invited to give masterclasses at the Académie Rainier III in Monaco, Mount Royal Conservatory in Calgary, and the Victoria Conservatory among others.
Deeply committed to innovation in classical music, Cameron constantly imagines new ways to share his art with the world. He enjoys performing in unusual locations, from breweries and wineries to public markets, and makes a point of visiting smaller communities in Canada. He is fascinated by historical performance practice and exploring lesser known works while also being engaged in contemporary music and collaborating with world renowned composers including Kaija Saariaho and Peteris Vasks. He has premiered a number of new works dedicated to him from solos to concertos and is active in commissioning new music from Canadian composers such as Alexina Louie or Kelly-Marie Murphy. He has worked with a number of contemporary music ensembles and institutions including the Ensemble Intercontemporain, the IRCAM, and the Ensemble Court-Circuit.
Cameron has been selected to participate in various international competitions, and is 2nd prize laureate of both the OSM Standard Life and the Eckhardt-Gramatté Competitions and was one of 12 cellists chosen to compete at Kronberg Academy’s 2014 Grand Prix Emanuel Feuermann. He is extremely grateful for the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, Sylva Gelber Foundation, and CBC/Radio-Canada in his projects. He is currently plays the the Spanish cello “El Tiburon” attributed to Juan Guillami of Barcelona ca. 1769 generously on loan from the Canada Council for the Arts Instrument Bank.