Craig Paré, Professor of Music, conducts the University Band and the Symphonic Band. Appointed to the School of Music faculty in 1993, Dr. Paré also teaches conducting, as well as “Thinking, Listening, Creating with Music,” a course developed for College of Liberal Arts students.
Under his direction, the ý Band has produced ten critically acclaimed compact discs through its CD Recording Project, issued commercially on the Mark Masters label. The University Band has also recorded wind works for the Kjos Publishing Company and Daehn Publications. The ensemble has been host to world-renowned musicians including composers Joseph Schwantner, John Corigliano, Christopher Theofanidis, Susan Botti, Joan Tower, Augusta Read Thomas, Libby Larsen, Bright Sheng, Roberto Sierra, and Chen Yi, and conductors Eugene Migliaro Corporon, Jack Stamp, Joan deAlbuquerque, Roby George, and John Lynch.
Dr. Paré’s teaching at ý has been recognized through the receipt of three preeminent awards: the John Price Durban John Distinguished Professorship, the ý/United Methodist Church Exemplary Teaching Award, and the Joan Westmen Battey Distinguished Teaching Award.
His professional affiliations include the College Band Directors National Association, Indiana Bandmasters Association, Percussive Arts Society, and the National Association for Music Education. He has also been inducted as a member of the Phi Beta Mu international band fraternity.
Dr. Paré earned a Bachelor of Music degree in music education from Barrington College, a Master of Music in percussion performance from Florida State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in wind conducting from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music as a student of Eugene Migliaro Corporon. While in Cincinnati, Dr. Paré also was the co-founder of the Cincinnati Youth Wind Ensemble, a select wind group comprised of the finest high school woodwind, brass, and percussion students in the Ohio/Indiana/Kentucky region. He continues to be in demand as a clinician and guest conductor with many middle school and high school bands.
Dr. Paré has earned the rank of Black Belt, Sandan, 3rd Dan, as a Kenpo Gojo Ryu karate student of Grand Master Stephen St. Pierre and Sensei Nikol St. Pierre at the All-American Karate Academy, Greencastle, Indiana.
