the pianist

​DR. DONALD E. CRANDALL

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Donald E. Crandall, D.M.A., is an accomplished pianist, educator, and performer based in Kerrville, Texas. A respected figure in the Texas Hill Country music community, he has built a distinguished career as a concert pianist, piano professor, jazz pianist, and private piano instructor.

 

Dr. Crandall began studying piano at the age of four in Norwich, New York. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Ithaca College before completing a Master of Music degree at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. In 1997, he received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The University of Texas at Austin.

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With more than 25 years of teaching experience, Dr. Crandall has taught at the South Shore Conservatory of Music in Hingham, Massachusetts; Powers Music School in Belmont, Massachusetts; The University of Texas at Austin; and Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas. At Schreiner, he served as Director of Music for 17 years and continues to teach Music Theory, Studio Piano, Group Piano, Piano Proficiency, and Sight-Singing and Ear Training.

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His dedication to music education has earned numerous honors. In 2000, he received Schreiner University’s Margaret Hosler Award for Excellence in Teaching. He was promoted to Professor of Music in 2010 and was named the Nancy and Cecil Atkission Professor in 2011. In 2025, Dr. Crandall was inducted into the Steinway & Sons Music Teacher Hall of Fame, joining a select group of piano educators from across the United States and Canada recognized for excellence in teaching, leadership, and service to the musical arts.

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As a performer, Dr. Crandall is a frequent soloist with the Symphony of the Hills and has appeared in some of the most celebrated orchestral performances. Featured works include Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and I’ve Got Rhythm Variations, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 (“The Emperor”), Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor, Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini, and Addinsell’s Warsaw Concerto. He has also been featured in a piano duet performance from Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals.

 

His repertoire spans the Classical, Romantic, and American traditions, reflecting both technical mastery and expressive artistry.

 

Beyond the concert stage, Dr. Crandall remains active throughout Kerrville and the Texas Hill Country as a solo pianist and collaborative artist. He performs with the Mike Kasberg Jazz Band, Men in Black, and at private events, community programs, and special engagements. Whether presenting classical masterworks, jazz standards, or popular favorites, he brings decades of experience, musicianship, and professionalism to every performance.

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A sought-after pianist in the Texas Hill Country, Dr. Crandall continues to inspire students and audiences alike through his teaching, performing, and service to the community. His commitment to musical excellence, both in the classroom and on the stage, has made him one of the region’s most respected educators and performers.