C.J. Camerieri, a Brooklyn-based trumpet player, enjoys an active, diverse, and exciting career as a freelance multi-instrumentalist. Since completing his classical trumpet training at Juilliard, he has become an indispensable collaborator for numerous indie rock groups as a performer, arranger, improviser, and soloist.
Camerieri’s longest standing affiliation is with Sufjan Stevens as the lead soloist in his horn section. In addition to trumpet, he plays french horn and keyboards in the ensemble. Since joining Stevens for a Lincoln Center “American Songbook” performance in January of 2006, C.J. has performed with him at such prestigious venues as Town Hall, the Kennedy and Barbican Centers, and on the PBS show “Austin City Limits.” In addition to recording on “Songs for Christmas Volume V: Peace,” C.J. performs with Sufjan on Nonesuch Records’ “Tribute to Joni Mitchell”and the soundtrack to Todd Haynes’ film, “I’m Not There.”
As a member of Rufus Wainwright’s band, C.J. has played trumpet solos and sung background vocals across the world on stage, television and radio including performances at Radio City Music Hall, the Coachella and Glastonbury Festivals, and on the “Late Show with David Letterman“. He is featured with Rufus on the the live DVD “Milwaukee At Last!!!” and on “War Child: Heroes.” C.J. appears with Rufus and family annually in the McGarrigle Christmas Hour and recently recorded on trumpet and french horn for Martha Wainwright’s Edith Piaf album.
In addition to his work in popular and alternative music, C.J. maintains an active career as a freelance performer of classical, contemporary and improvised music. He was recently named Principal Trumpet of the American Composer’s Orchestra and frequently performs with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, New York City Ballet, Riverside Symphony, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Lincoln Center Festival Orchestra, Absolute Ensemble, Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, Manhattan Brass and the Argento New Music Ensemble. As a soloist, C.J. performed a concerto in 2000 with the Juilliard Orchestra that the NY Times declared a “brilliant performance” and he placed first that same year in the National Trumpet Competition’s Jazz Division.
C.J.’s discography includes current and forthcoming releases by Sufjan Stevens, Rufus Wainwright, David Byrne, Antony and the Johnsons, Martha Wainwright, Loudon Wainwright III, Gabriel Kahane, The National, Julia Stone, A Fine Frenzy, Jesse Harris, Baby Dee, Diane Birch, Joan Osbourne, Sean Lennon, Yuka Honda, Harper Simon, Clare and the Reasons, Welcome Wagon, Anthony Coleman, Argento New Music Ensemble and the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra. In 2008, he co-founded yMusic with Rob Moose and is excited about upcoming recording projects, residencies, and tours with this collaborative ensemble.