Biography
Colin Crandal is an American percussionist, marimbist, educator, and interdisciplinary performer based in the Netherlands. Originally from Portland, Oregon, he is particularly active in chamber music, contemporary music, musical theatre, improvisation, and cross-genre performance practices. His work is characterized by a communicative and highly personal approach to performance, combining technical versatility with warmth, humor, and a strong sense of theatrical presence.
A central part of Colin’s artistic practice is the exploration of the marimba as a lyrical and expressive instrument beyond its traditional repertoire. Through projects such as Folk Cabaret — a duo with mezzo-soprano Teodora Drozdik-Popović — he creates recital programs that move fluidly between classical music, folk traditions, cabaret, and popular music. In this context, he has become especially interested in adapting and arranging ragtime and early twentieth-century piano repertoire for marimba, bringing new colors and textures to works by composers such as William Bolcom, Manuel de Falla, Scott Joplin and others. Recent performances of Folk Cabaret have taken place in the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States.
Alongside his solo and chamber music activities, Colin is regularly invited to perform in opera and interdisciplinary theatre productions, often in highly demanding or unconventional roles. Recent engagements include the chamber operas Offer, SIREN, Remote Posting, and Ping Pong, in which he has performed as solo percussionist, improviser, drummer, and in several cases the sole or primary instrumental accompanist for the production. His performances have been praised for their energy, sensitivity, and stage presence, with Theaterkrant writing: “Slagwerker Colin Crandal kan niet genoeg geprezen worden.”
Colin also maintains a strong connection to vocal and choral music. Influenced early on by his father’s multi-faceted musical career spanning jazz, opera, church music, and popular music, he grew up moving naturally between different musical traditions. Today, in addition to his percussion work, he performs as a tenor with the professional choir Studium Chorale, and remains active as an improviser in projects in both the Netherlands and Belgium.
As a performer, Colin is especially interested in creating meaningful connections with audiences through programming, storytelling, and open communication. Whether performing contemporary music, chamber opera, transcriptions, or improvised music, he aims to present concerts that feel alive, human, and accessible without sacrificing artistic depth.
Recent performances and collaborations include appearances at the Grachtenfestival in Amsterdam, Festival NEO in Novi Sad, Serbia, Muzika Erdvėje in Vilnius, Lithuania, performances on Belgian national radio Klara VRT, Carmina Burana with pianists Lucas Jussen and Arthur Jussen in Maastricht, and projects with the Dutch National Opera and the Nationaal Jeugd Orkest.
After completing his Bachelor of Music at the Peabody Conservatory with renowned marimbist Robert van Sice, Colin completed his Master of Music at Conservatorium Maastricht under Raymond Curfs. Though only a few years out of formal study, he has already spent nearly two decades deeply engaged with percussion and music-making, and continues to approach new projects with curiosity, openness, and a strong artistic drive.