JOHN CRABTREE, a Louisiana native, received his degrees from Southeastern Louisiana University (M.M. Guitar Performance), and Louisiana State University (M.M., D.M.A. Composition). Performances of his music have been featured nationally and internationally at various concerts and conferences in North America, Europe, and South America. Among his composition awards are the Phi Mu Alpha National Conference Centennial Fanfare Competition of 1997 for A Centennial Celebration: Sinfonian Fanfare for brass ensemble, New York’s INMC (International New Music Consortium, Inc.) Composition Competition of 2001 for Scintillate Plectrums for electronic tape, a series of Standard Awards from ASCAP, and a Winner of one of two prizes in the Penn State University College of Arts and Architecture’s Competition for Two Commencement Marches for Commencement for the Penn State University Trombone Choir. Several recordings can be heard on the Magni and New Tertian Recordings labels, as well as on Summit Records featuring trumpeter, Rex Richardson. In 2013, his collaboration with animator Diana Salles on Marbles won Best Ultra Short in the Downbeach Film Festival’s Atlantic City Cinefest of that same year.
In 2018, he collaborated with Dave Englert to author the digital textbook, Rock On! The Study of Rock & Pop Music which was used at Sam Houston State University. Recently, his Commencement piece (arranged for virtual string orchestra) was used for Lone Star College – University Park’s virtual graduation in May of 2020 and July of 2021. Additionally, two of his piano works, Haec Dies, and Conception, was also used by Lone Star College – University Park for the “9/11 Remembrance: 20-Year Commemoration“ virtual tribute in September of 2021, and a debut of his Requiem for orchestra, SATB chorus, soloists, and organ, a commission from the Kingwood Chorale and Orchestra, was successfully given in November of 2021. Recently, he was a National Semi-Finalist for the American Prize in Composition for both Portraits of Manchac (Instrumental Chamber Music), and Rain Falls From Broken Glass (Band/Wind Ensemble) – the latter of which was awarded 2nd place in that competition in 2022. Additionally, in the summer of 2022 his SATB a cappella arrangement of The Mansions of the Lord (Words and music by Wallace and Glennie-Smith) was featured at the National World War II Memorial during the 2022 National Memorial Day Choral Festival in Washington, D.C. In 2023, he once again was a National Semi-Finalist for The American Prize in Composition for both Agnus Dei (Choral Music), and Twenty Such (Instrumental Chamber Music). His music has recently been featured by Symphony Inspira, and the award-winning women’s choral group, Belles Voix.
John has previously served on the music faculty at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana, Our Lady of the Lake College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the University of Houston. He is currently on the music faculty at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, as well as Lone Star College in Kingwood. He is also an active member of CMS (College Music Society), SCI (Society of Composers, Inc), SCL (Southeastern Composers League), NACUSA (National Association of Composers, USA), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers).
Outside of music, John is an active member and former Legion Costume Judge for The Rebel Legion/The 501st costume organization – a worldwide organization which promotes costumes of the Star Wars universe and raises money for charitable organizations.
As a performing musician, John has been playing lead guitar in a variety of settings and styles since his teenage years. He has played with the New Orleans progressive hard rock band, Organized Confusion, during the late 1980s, and since then has performed in several musical theater productions (Man of La Mancha with Baton Rouge Little Theater; Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with The Episcopal School in Baton Rouge; Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story with the Crighton Theater in Conroe, Texas; RENT with the SHSU Theater Department, as well as Lone Star Montgomery’s Theater Dept; Always…Patsy Cline with Stage Right Productions in Conroe, TX, Smokey Joe’s Café with the Owen Theatre in Conroe, Texas, Shrek: The Musical with Class Act Productions, The John Cooper School, and Kingwood High School, Bonnie & Clyde with Kingwood High School, Little Shop of Horrors with Splendora High School), and has collaborated with R&B singer, Teddy Gipson, on several occasional performances, as well as was the lead guitarist for Texas Country Singer/Songwriter, Lance Aldrich, in The Lance Aldrich Band.
