Craig Music Publishers:

Mark A. Craig (ASCAP) began writing musical arrangements in 2001, while serving as a clarinetist in the U.S. Air Force Bands. During that year, he created Craig Music Publishers (CMP). He specializes in arrangements for winds, focusing mainly on works for woodwind quintet, clarinet quartet, clarinet choir, and other chamber ensembles.

In 2012, Mark was chosen by ALRY Publications as one of their newest arrangers. They have published dozens of his arrangements. Four of his ALRY arrangements are on the Texas UIL Prescribed Music List for woodwind quintets, including Grainger: Lincolnshire Posy; Grainger: Molly on the Shore; Mozart: Rondo from "Gran Partita" Serenade; and Sousa: Three Marches (including Semper Fidelis, The Black Horse Troop, and Hands Across the Sea). Additionally, three of his ALRY clarinet quartet arrangements are on the Florida Bandmasters Association Woodwind Solo & Ensemble Music List, including Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring; Handel: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba; and Mozart: Rondo from the "Gran Partita" Serenade.

All of these Mark A. Craig ALRY titles, in print editions, are available on ALRY, Clarinet World, J. W. Pepper, and other sites. Mark’s CMP titles offer digital download arrangements for multiple ensembles on this website. Visit our Shop to explore them further. His arrangements of popular copyrighted tunes, including songs from Broadway hits like Wicked, movie music, pop tunes, and jazz standards, as well as plenty of public domain arrangements, are available on Sheet Music Direct and Sheet Music Plus.

After 24 years of professional experience as a clarinetist, bass clarinetist, and staff arranger in the U.S. Air Force Bands, Mark retired and embarked on a graduate program at the University of North Texas, while writing musical arrangements part-time. Then, in 2024, after completing his Master’s Degree, Mark decided to devote his energies to CMP.

At the time, he had several arrangements published by ALRY Publications and several dozen with Sheet Music Press (the predecessor of ArrangeMe), but no social media presence or website. Although well-known and respected in the U.S. Air Force Band community, Mark was not as established in the civilian world. Therefore, in the last two years, Mark has developed a CMP web presence with social media accounts on YouTube, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Looking forward, CMP will venture into the world of music conventions to increase brand awareness.

Part of brand awareness is ensuring CMP’s potential customers know the kinds of arrangements they write. Many published arrangements, especially for clarinet ensembles, feature imbalanced parts, as they are often written for educational purposes and cater to varying levels of technical ability. However, many of CMP’s arrangements were written for Air Force Band ensembles with equally talented players; therefore, CMP arrangements are all equally weighted to allow each group member to play melody, counter-melody, harmony, and technical passages, making the experience more rewarding for all players.

CMP arrangements have been featured on the recordings The Holly & Ivy, by the U.S. Air Force Academy Band, San Antonio Rose, by the U.S. Air Force Band of the West, and New England Holidays and Winds and Brass, both recorded by the U.S. Air Force Band of Liberty. Also, two CMP clarinet quartet arrangements were performed by the Bay State Winds on the NPR nationally syndicated radio show Fresh Air.

Mark’s credentials include musical studies at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree, and the University of North Texas in Denton, where he earned his Master's Degree. Mark’s professional affiliations include membership in ASCAP, Chamber Music America, the International Clarinet Association, the International Mozarteum Foundation, and the I.S.M.N. Agency (part of the Library of Congress).

Although a native Texan, he has worked worldwide as a professional musician, performing for multiple heads of state, several members of royalty, and both U.S. and international military VIPs. During his Air Force Band career, he had four assignments, performed in 30 countries and 45 states with 25 ensembles for over 120 million people, completed 210 concert tours totaling 880 days on the road with 11 different Air Force Bands, during which he visited roughly 1,500 cities.

His extensive travels and experience have taught him a great deal about the rich musical heritage around the globe, and he has applied this knowledge to his arrangements. Thanks for taking the time to learn more about this music publisher! Now visit the CMP Shop to check out their exceptional arrangements for winds.