Israeli born clarinetist Ran Kampel enjoys a versatile career of solo, chamber music, orchestral performances, and teaching. Currently living in Texas, he serves as the Assistant Professor of Clarinet at Baylor University School of Music. Before joining Baylor University, Ran held principal clarinet positions with the Jacksonville Symphony, the Grand Rapids Symphony, and was a fellow with the New World Symphony. He also has performed as a guest musician with The Cleveland Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. During the summers, Ran has performed at Salzburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Tanglewood, Yellow Barn, Krzyżowa-Music, Lakes Area, Aspen, Norfolk, Sarasota, Britten–Pears and Breckenridge music festivals.
A versatile chamber musician, Ran has collaborated with leading musicians such as Gilbert Kalish, Martin Chalifour, Roger Tapping, Lucy Shelton, Erik Schumann, Scott Yoo and Lahav Shani. He performed at the Residence of the President of Israel, the Israeli Ministry of Education, and the Israeli Consulate in LA . Ran’s chamber groups have also performed at the Eastman Virtuosi Series, the Grand Rapids Art Museum, at the WinterMezzo concert series of Festival Mozaic, in Festival del Sole Napa Valley, Sunset ChamberFest, and as part of the Pulitzer Prize Centennial Celebration in Miami. In 2020, Ran was awarded a Houston Arts Alliance Let Creativity Happen! Grant for his chamber music concerts, aimed to bring classical music to new audiences in the Houston area.
Ran received degrees with high honors from USC Thornton School of Music and the Eastman School of Music. His primary teachers were Yehuda Gilad, Jon Manasse, Andrew Brown and Eva Wasserman-Margolis. Ran is a Buffet Crampon USA Performing Artist and performs exclusively on Buffet Crampon instruments.
Outside the concert hall, Ran enjoys cooking, skiing, hiking, playing tennis and soccer.