It is not often in the field of music that one finds a performer and conductor with the versatility and technical competence to appear in a wide variety of venues. Whether it is the orchestra, wind ensemble, percussion ensemble, jazz ensemble, opera/musical theatre orchestra, dance band, or world and ethnic music, Dr. Stephen Crawford brings his thirty-plus years of percussion performance to these varying ensembles. It is even more impressive that Dr. Crawford feels as at home conducting these ensembles as he does performing in them. His love and enthusiasm for music, his interests in the advancement of the art, and the education of musicians of all ages as kept him in demand as a performer, conductor, clinician, and lecturer, throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Ireland. He has a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music Performance Degree from the University of Northern Iowa, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education from Minot State University.

Steve's percussion performance career has allowed him the opportunity to accompany such musicians as Allen Vizzuti, Kevin Mohagany, Gary Foster, John Browning, Gordon MaCrae, Ashley Alexander, Steve Wright, The Kingston Trio, and The King Singers. He is the Principal Percussionist with the Temple Symphony Orchestra. He has performed as a percussionist with the Minot Symphony Orchestra, the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra, the Lawrence Symphony Orchestra, and was the Associate Conductor with the Kansas City Civic Orchestra.

Currently, Dr. Crawford is the Director of Bands and Percussion Studies the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. He is also the founder and musical director of the Ritmo y Mas Percussion Group. A nationally recognized conductor and scholar of wind and percussion music, Dr. Crawford has conducted performances at state, national and international conferences including the Texas Music Educator's Association, the CBDNA National Conference, and the International Horn Symposium. He has conducted five world premiere performances of new wind music and has won the praise of composers such as Ken Langer, James Mobberely, David Wilkens, and Bruce Fraser for his interpretive conducting of their compositions.

His continued interest in wind and percussion education have led to publications, which include The Care and Maintenance of Percussion Instruments in the North Dakota Music Educator's Journal, and Building a Better Keyboard Percussion Section. Future publications will include the topics of The Wind Chamber Music of Carlos Chávez and Music Education and the Wind Band in Scotland. Dr. Crawford maintains membership in the Percussive Arts Society, the College Band Directors National Association, the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, The National Band Directors Association, the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, and the Conductor's Guild.

Dr. Crawford performs solo marimba literature on the R400 Sovereign Rosewood Concert Marimba.

Contact Ross to set up a clinic or masterclass with Dr. Crawford.

Click HERE to listen to Dr. Crawford discuss the multiple percussion set-up picture at left.