Karl P. Kramer

Professor of Music
Director of the School of Music

Karl P. Kramer earned his BME magna cum laude at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his MM at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, and his DMA at Manhattan School of Music in New York City. He has studied with the noted teachers Thompson Hanks, Warren Deck, and Edmund Moore.

Before joining the University of Illinois School of Music, Dr. Kramer was Dean of Music at the New World School of the Arts in Miami, Florida, and Purchase College Conservatory of Music at the State University of New York. An advocate of the arts as a means for expression and collaboration, Dr. Kramer was Assistant Director of the Music Foundation for the Handicapped in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where he worked closely with disabled children and adults to help them realize their goals through artistic endeavors. He also founded the Fairfield County Connecticut Regional Center for the Arts to integrate suburban and inner-city youth through dance and music.

An authority on modern brass chamber music, Dr. Kramer is Founding Member of the Brass Ring Quintet. He is Principal Tuba of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and Connecticut Grand Opera Orchestra, and has performed with a wide range of orchestras and ensembles, including the New York City Ballet Orchestra, Opera Orchestra of New York, Florida Philharmonic, Miami Symphony Orchestra, and Hartford Symphony Orchestra. He also is Founder and Artistic Director of the Allerton Music Barn Festival in Monticello, Illinois, which presents chamber music and jazz performances featuring internationally renowned performers.

Dr. Kramer is the recipient of the New Haven Symphony Distinguished Service Award and the Temple University Alumni Certificate of Honor. He has performed world premiers of the compositions of Jacob Druckman, John Harbison, Ned Rorem, and David Del Tredici, including two pieces written expressly for him: Neely Bruce’s The Songs of Zion Recycled and Eric Ewazen’s Sonata for Tuba and Piano. Also to his credit are his recordings of compact discs for the Crystal Label that feature world premiere recordings of compositions by Luciano Berio, Jacob Druckman, Hans Werner Henze, Witold Lutoslawski, Ned Rorem, and David Del Tredici. In addition, he has recorded soundtracks for the Public Broadcasting Service series, American Experience, and is broadcast regularly on National Public Radio. The Kendor Music Company and Brass Ring Editions publish his arrangements for brass ensemble.

In addition to providing artistic direction for the School of Music, Dr. Kramer recruits and mentors faculty, initiates and oversees fundraising activities to support the School of Music, and partners with all fine and applied arts departments to cultivate cross cultural and interdisciplinary projects. He is a sought after national consultant in the evaluation and accreditation of institutions for higher learning in music.