CBDNA established the Oral History Project in 2021 as a way to catalog the stories from CBDNA leaders that have shaped the organization and the profession. The project is designed to provide those in the profession (as well as interested observers) with a historical look at the development of the organization, its leaders and key initiatives, how the organization came to be what it is today, and where it might be headed.
Scott Lubaroff interviewed Craig Kirchhoff in 2024 about his time as CBDNA President from 1993-1995.
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Craig Kirchhoff is Professor Emeritus of Conducting and Director Emeritus of University Bands at the University of Minnesota, where he conducted the University Wind Ensemble and guest conducted in the University Opera Program. Professor Kirchhoff coordinated the graduate program in Wind Ensemble/Band Conducting and guided all aspects of the University of Minnesota wind band program from 1993 to 2015. Born and educated in Wisconsin, Mr. Kirchhoff is known for his broad knowledge of both traditional and contemporary repertoire for wind band and chamber winds. He has earned critical acclaim from composers including Dominick Argento, Warren Benson, William Bolcom, Henry Brant, Susan Botti, Elliott Carter, Michael Colgrass, John Corigliano, Michael Daugherty, Karel Husa, Libby Larsen, George Perle, Vincent Persichetti, Carter Pann, Stephen Paulus, Kevin Puts, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Gunther Schuller, Joseph Schwantner, Elliott Schwartz James Stephenson, Steven Stucky, Frank Ticheli, Dana Wilson, Chen Yi, and others.
Prior to his appointment to the University of Minnesota music faculty, Professor Kirchhoff served in similarly as Director of Bands at The Ohio State University for fourteen years, as Director of Bands at Washington State University for two years, and Associate Director of Bands at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for one year. Mr. Kirchhoff was the recipient of The Ohio State University Alumni Distinguished Teaching Award and The Ohio State University School of Music Distinguished Teaching Award. Professor Kirchhoff serves as an advisor to the BandQuest Series published by the American Composers Forum, and he joined James Galway, Eddie Daniels, Donald Hunsberger, Wynton Marsalis, and Dawn Upshaw on the Advisory Board for SmartMusic. Additionally, he serves as the Artistic Advisor for the Windependence Wind Band Series published by Boosey & Hawkes.
Professor Kirchhoff is past president of the College Band Directors National Association (1993-1995) and is a member of the American Bandmasters Association, the National Band Association, the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, the National Association for Music Education, and served as the founding editor and principal advisor of the CBDNA Journal.
Professor Kirchhoff has appeared as guest conductor, clinician, and lecturer throughout the United States, Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Taiwan, Europe, and Scandinavia. He enjoyed a long association with the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra during Frederick Fennell’s tenure as Music Director and recorded with them on the Kosei Publishing label. Professor Kirchhoff was awarded the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic Medal of Honor in 2018, was presented with the CBDNA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, and was awarded the Phi Beta Mu Bandmaster of the Year Award at the 2019 Midwest Clinic. Professor Kirchhoff serves as a Yamaha Master Educator.
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Interview produced and edited by Scott Lubaroff.
21 окт 2024
