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Kansas City's Online Journal of the Performing Arts

“I cannot find words to express the grief we all feel at the loss of Ellen Campbell. She gave so much to so many,” says Joe Parisi, the Conservatory’s associate professor of bands. “Her beautiful spirit was fueled by the love of her family, students, and friends. This, with so many other truly remarkable qualities made her an irreplaceable human being. The world has lost a great person who has left her indelible mark on many.”

Ellen Campbell received degrees from Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) and Michigan State University. She held faculty positions at the University of New Mexico and Southwest Texas State University before her appointments as assistant professor of horn at the University of Oregon in 1994 and the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance in 2005.

"Ellen was simply one of the nicest people I've ever known. She was dedicated to her students (and her students were dedicated to her) in a way that we should all aspire to. She will be profoundly missed by all of us...there will be a hole in our lives forever." - Keith Benjamin, professor of trumpet, UMKC Conservatory.

Her impressive orchestral career included appearances as a soloist with the Houston Symphony, Oregon Symphony and Grand Rapids Symphony, among several others, and as principal horn in the Santa Fe Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony, Austin Chamber Orchestra, Oregon Bach Festival and the Opera Festival Orchestra in Rome. She had also played horn with the symphony orchestras of Lansing, Eugene, Flint, Austin, and the Michigan Opera Theatre.

As a chamber musician, Campbell served in the Oregon Brass Quintet and New Mexico Brass Quintet—with which she toured Finland, the former Soviet Union, Australia, Mexico, and throughout the United States—and recorded albums with these groups as well as with pianist Victor Steinhardt. She was a member of the Fontana Ensemble for the Fontana Festival of Art and Music for several summers in Shelbyville, Michigan. 

A champion of new music as well, Campbell commissioned and performed new works by living composers such as Mark Schultz and Gary Noland throughout her career. She appears on Noland’s recent album Selected Music from Venge Art on the North Pacific Music label.

Campbell was a dedicated musician and educator in the Kansas City arts community and beyond. Her in-depth and insightful essay “Thoughts on Holding the Horn” was published in the June 2002 edition of the Texas Bandmasters Association’s The Bandmasters Review. For many summers, Campbell was a faculty member and regular guest artist/clinician at the Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan and was a frequently invited guest performer at regional and international workshops of the International Horn Society, serving as host for their 1996 Workshop in Eugene, Oregon. She presented solo recitals and master classes throughout the United States regularly.

“Ellen was a treasured and respected friend and colleague. She always had the best interest of the students in mind, and sought new and creative ways of teaching,” says JoDee Davis, associate professor of trombone at the Conservatory. “She was levelheaded, honest, fun, and a confidant. Words can’t describe how much we will miss her.”

Comments(1):

1. Interlochen

   Doug and Neill, I am extremely saddened to learn of Ellen's untimely passing. I remember fondly how Ellen immediately took over R-9 on Quacker Bay the minute we moved on :o) And that Neill's name was added to Sam's on his bedroom door. Many fond summer memories of your family at Interlochen. Please know that you are all in my thoughts and memories and I can hear Ellen practicing as I key this. Carol Townsend

   Tuesday, September 06, 2011 Carol