Teacher

Craig’s career as a professional singer in opera, oratorio, concert, and musical theater spans 40 years, sixteen of which were spent in New York City, and includes performances throughout the eastern seaboard, Texas, Iowa, Colorado, and Pennsylvania in such venues as Alice Tully Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Cami Hall and Merkin Concert Hall in New York City, Symphony Hall in Boston, and the old Fair Park Symphony Hall in Dallas.

While in New York, he studied with numerous musical and dramatic coaches from the Metropolitan, New York City and La Scala Opera companies. Among his voice teachers was the renowned Metropolitan Opera tenor, Franco Corelli. He also was an apprentice with the prestigious Aspen Summer Festival and Des Moines Metro Opera Company, where he had the opportunity to study and perform with many notables from the world of opera. Among the singers he has appeared on stage with during his career are Rene Fleming, Donnie Rae Albert, Juan Pons, Alfredo Kraus, Giuseppe Giacomini, Cynthia Munzer.

Among his leading roles in opera have been Tamino in The Magic Flute, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Werther in Werther, Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana, and Don Alvaro in La Forza del Destino.

He has over 20 oratorios to his credit as tenor soloist singing oratorios ranging from Bach to Britten, with Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Requiem his most frequently performed works.

In concert and recital he has been a frequent performer, and has performed a number of benefit recitals and organized collaborative concerts with other singers to raise money for churches and charities.

Craig has worked as a private voice teacher for twenty years and studied pedagogy with noted pedagogue the late Berton Coffin and Barbara Hill Moore.

Craig tailors his teaching to fit the needs and wants of each student, but teaches what he believes to be the healthiest, most flexible technique, particularly for young developing singers that will keep their voices healthy, youthful and vibrant. He stresses the basic fundamentals of proper breath coordination and support, posture, and a sense of freedom and release in singing. His students gain both a wider vocal and dynamic range, and sing with greater freedom, flexibility and confidence.

He has taught voice students as young as 11 years old and as old as 72. He has had students who perform in a variety of genres including Classical, Musical Theater, Folk/Bluegrass, and Contemporary Christian (CCM).

Craig has been a member of both New York Singing Teachers Association (NYSTA) and the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS).