Craig Mason
Musical Director of Madison Brass Band
A graduate of Stoughton High School, Craig Mason attended UW Platteville, where he received a Comprehensive Music Education Degree (Vocal, Instrumental, and General). In the Spring of 2009, he received his Masters of Music Education from UW Madison. He has taught 5-12 Band and Choir in Pepin, Wisconsin, 7th and 8th grade band at Stoughton Middle School and he is currently teaching at Stoughton High School, where he teaches Music Theory, and is the conductor of the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, Marching Band, Pit Orchestra, and several chamber ensembles. He recently retired his position of music department chairperson, after serving in this positino for fifteen years.
Craig Mason was selected for the Kohl Fellowship in 1989 and has been selected for Who’s Who in America’s Teachers numerous times, as well as being selected for Who’s Who in America. He has taught many band clinics, judges marching band contests and solo & ensemble festivals. In the Winter of 2008-2009, Craig was selected as Wisconsin’s “most influential music educator”, by School Band and Orchestra Magazine. He has arranged and composed for many marching bands, concert bands, chamber ensembles, and drum and bugle corps around the United States, Europe and Japan. Several of his arrangements and compositions can be found on his website: http://members.sibeliusmusic.com/mason
Craig was also a marching member of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps from 1976 through 1985, and was also on the brass staff through 1991. He was also selected to be one of the drum majors for the Madison Scouts Alumni Reunion Project in the summer of 2006, in which over 250 Madison Scouts Alumni rehearsed and performed in the Madison area.
Students in the Stoughton High School Band department consistently rank high in solo ensemble and group festivals, as well as participate in state music festivals, state honors ensembles, and other honors band activities. Several ensembles have been selected to perform at the Wisconsin state music convention, as well as the national band association convention, and have toured across the United States and Canada. The marching band has performed with the world famous Dallas Brass, and in the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade. The jazz ensemble has performed across the U.S. and Canada, as well as opening for such elite groups as the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. To find out more about the Stoughton High School Band program, please visit their website at: www.stoughton.k12.wi.us/hsband
Craig has been the conductor for the Madison Brass Band since 2006, and loves EVERY moment of it. Some particularly fond memories include any time he gets to spend with John Z., and how on time Tack is to every rehearsal and performance.
