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. After 24 years of professional experience as a clarinetist, bass clarinetist, and staff arranger in the U.S. Air Force Bands, Mark retired and now writes musical arrangements full-time for CMP.

Four of his CMP 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 CMP 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 titles, and many others, are available on this website as digital downloads. For print editions, you can find them on ALRY, Clarinet World, J. W. Pepper, and other sites. Craig Music Publishers also offers several arrangements of popular copyrighted tunes, including Broadway hits like Wicked, movie music, pop tunes, and jazz standards, available on Sheet Music Direct and Sheet Music Plus.

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 my 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.

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 studies in music 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, and the International Mozarteum Foundation.

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.