TBJ178: Mary Ann Craig
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On This Episode of The Brass Junkies:
Mary Ann starting on euphonium the summer after 2nd grade
“Nothing like triple tonguing in church to get people into a praying mood.”
How she got into conducting (including a workshop she attended with Frederick Fennell)
Her experience as the Director of Bands at Montclair State University
Mary Ann’s 11 trips to conduct bands in Russia
Studying with Henry Charles Smith and earning the first ever Performer’s Certificate in Euphonium from Indiana University
Subjecting Harvey Phillips to bad tuba playing during her doctorate
The low brass festival she hosted every year
Creating your own opportunities as a musician
A great quote from Jerry Junkin
The Colonial Tuba Quartet
The time she got called to play with Summit Brass
The importance of euphonium representation
Bio:
Mary Ann Craig, D.M.E., was a 1965 graduate of Lakeview High School. Dr. Craig received her Doctor of Music Education (1981) and Master of Music Education (1970) degrees from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana. She is a 1969 graduate of Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory with a B.M.E. degree. Dr. Craig taught for eight years in the Seneca Valley Schools in Western Pennsylvania and for one year at Wollongong Conservatorium of Music and Goulburn College of Advanced Education in Australia. After teaching for several years at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, she accepted the position of Director of Bands at Montclair State University in New Jersey.
Dr. Craig is Professor Emerita and retired Director of Bands at Montclair State University in New Jersey. The Montclair State University Symphonic Band more than tripled in size during the ten years Dr. Craig was Director of Bands at the university. She is Past President of the International Tuba-Euphonium Association, an organization of 2,000 members from over forty countries. As a conductor Dr. Craig has conducted the leading professional, military, and conservatory concert bands in Russia, Ukraine, and Hungary. Dr. Craig has been interviewed for radio and television broadcasts of the People’s National Radio of Russia and the British Broadcasting Company. She was awarded the title of Honored Professor of Moscow State University of Culture and Arts in 2003 and had the rare opportunity to present both conducting and low brass master classes at the famed St. Petersburg Conservatory in Russia.
As a euphonium soloist and low brass clinician, Dr. Craig has appeared throughout the United States, Japan, Europe, Australia, and Canada. She has released two solo euphonium recordings, Out on a Limb, and Mary Ann Craig, Euphonium, as well as a CD, Spectraphonics, with her Colonial Tuba Quartet. In 1970 Dr. Craig became the first euphonium player to be awarded the coveted Performer's Certificate from Indiana University. She is featured in the International Tuba-Euphonium Association Journal (Fall 2020) and in Anne Gray’s book, Women in Classical Music.
In 2006 Dr. Craig was the first female invited to serve as Guest Conductor of the Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Band Festival in the festival's 59-year history. She served as the New Jersey State Chair for the College Band Directors National Association and the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors. Dr. Craig has served on the Board of Directors of the International Women's Brass Conference and as Chair for the Society for Music Teacher Education-Eastern Division.
In 2009 Dr. Craig retired and moved back to her native Western Pennsylvania where she became very involved with the Pittsburgh Symphony Association serving as President of the Pittsburgh Symphony Association. She continues to serve on the Board in various positions. In 2012 Dr. Craig was awarded the Baldwin-Wallace University Conservatory of Music Outstanding Alumna Achievement recipient of the year. Most recently, she chaired a Pittsburgh city-wide project to raise $200,000 for a new Steinway concert grand for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
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With Thanks
The brass program at The Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University
Parker Mouthpieces (including the Andrew Hitz and Lance LaDuke models.)
Enter the promo code “junkies11” at online checkout to receive $500 off your purchase of a new instrument from houghtonhorns.com
Expertly produced by Will Houchin with love, care, and enthusiasm.
