Mark Craig

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 mixed 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 staff arranger. He continues to write musical arrangements and recently completed his Master of Science-Library Science degree in Music Librarianship at the University of North Texas, where he maintained a 4.0 GPA. 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. He has worked as a professional musician in 45 states and 30 countries; his extensive travels and experience have taught him much about the rich musical heritage in these areas, and he has applied this experience to his arrangements.

 His principal teachers were Steven Girko, (former) Principal Clarinetist with the Dallas Symphony; Christopher Runk, (former) Associate Principal/Bass Clarinetist with the Dallas Symphony; Forest Aten, Principal and Bass Clarinetist with the Dallas Opera; 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 with the San Francisco Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Mark also performed across Europe and Asia for several US Ambassadors and various heads of state. He’s written numerous arrangements for professional ensembles, which are performed around the world. His arrangements have been featured on the CDs "The Holly & Ivy" by the U. S. Air Force Academy Band, “San Antonio Rose” by the U. S. Air Force Band of the West, "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, The American Musicological Society, and the International Clarinet Association.