Mark Craig (b. 1964)

Mark A. Craig began writing musical arrangements in 2001. He specializes in arrangements for winds, focusing mainly on works for woodwind quintet, clarinet quartet, woodwind quartet, and small chamber ensembles (8+). Mark retired from the US Air Force Band program in 2019 after 24 years of honorable service as clarinetist/bass clarinetist and arranger. He continues to write musical arrangements and is currently pursuing a Master of Science-Library Science degree in Music Librarianship at the University of North Texas, where he maintains a 4.0 GPA. He has worked as a professional musician all over the U.S., western and Eastern Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and the Middle East. His extensive travels and nearly 30 years of experience have taught him much about the rich, musical heritage in these areas, and he has applied this experience to his arrangements. A native Texan, he studied music at the University of North Texas, and Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music. His principal teachers were Steven Girko, (former) Principal Clarinetist with the Dallas Symphony; Christopher Runk, Associate Principal/Bass Clarinetist with the Dallas Symphony; Ross Powell, clarinetist and founder of Dallas’ Voices of Change contemporary music ensemble; Forest Aten, Principal and Bass Clarinetist with the Dallas Opera and Dallas Ballet; William Wrzesien, retired Associate Professor of Clarinet at the New England Conservatory of Music; and Dr. James Gillespie, retired Regents Professor of Music at the University of North Texas.

He has performed most recently with the San Francisco Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and with such notable artists as Vince Gill, Bernadette Peters, John Houseman, Donald Hunsberger, Frank Bencriscutto, David Milnes, and former concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Anshel Brusilow. Mark also performed across Europe and Asia for several US Ambassadors, and various heads of state, and special performances in Jerusalem and Haifa, for “Israel at 60”, a celebration of Israel’s independence. Mark is a great proponent of Sibelius, which he has used for over 21 years. He has completed two advanced Sibelius/arranger’s seminars with Mike Klinger at the Music Technology Retreat in Carson, WA. He’s written numerous arrangements for professional ensembles, which are performed throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, northern Africa, and the Middle East. His arrangements have been featured on the CD’s the Holly & Ivy 2021, by the U. S. Air Force Academy Band, and New England Holidays, and Winds and Brass, both recorded by the U. S. Air Force Band of Liberty. Two of his clarinet quartet arrangements were performed by the Bay State Winds on NPR’s nationally syndicated radio show Fresh Air. Mark’s professional affiliations include membership in ASCAP, The Music Library Association, and the International Clarinet Association. His hobbies include travel and photography; he’s a graduate of the New York Institute of Photography.