The Aquinas athletic department and Director of Athletics Nick Davidson are pleased to announce the addition of Ted Craig as AQ's Director of Athletic Bands. Craig began working on campus in mid-January and will oversee the first-ever Athletic Band at Aquinas College.
Craig comes to Aquinas from Grand Valley State, where he served as the Assistant Marching Band Director and Adjunct Music Professor since 2011. He was the Director of the University Band in 2016 and worked as the Assistant Director of the GVSU Laker Marching Band.
"I am very excited to be working on a team that has a good vision for what the future of athletics at Aquinas could be," said Craig. "Nick Davidson and the rest of the athletic staff have created an environment here that promotes 'sky's the limit' thinking. It's exciting to think about what we could create here as a total athletic staff. I am looking forward to the future of AQ athletics."
In the fall of 2015, Craig was an Adjunct Music Professor at Aquinas, serving as Director and Administrator of the Aquinas College Concert Band and as an instructor of a fall course.
From 2000 to 2011, he was the Director of Instrumental Music at Grand Rapids South Christian High School. He was utilized in several roles, serving as either the Director or Director and Administrator of the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Freshman Band, String Orchestra, Basketball Pep Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Musical Pit Orchestra.
Craig also worked in similar roles at Cheboygan Area Schools and Centreville Public Schools.
"We were looking for a visionary and for someone to come in and think about how our athletic band department can add tremendous value to the student-athlete experience and Ted fully understands that," explained Davidson. "We are excited to see him build this program. We welcome Ted, Tanya, and his family to the Aquinas College family."
Craig has performance experience with the Grand Rapids Jazz Orchestra, the West Michigan Savoyards, the Grand Rapids Symphonic Band, and the Kalamazoo Concert Band.
He is a member of the College Band Director National Association (CBDNA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Michigan Music Education Association (MMEA), and Kappa Kappa Psi. He earned a Master of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music in 2007 and received his Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1996 from Grand Valley State.
The Aquinas Athletic Band will perform at various Saints athletic contests (both indoor and outdoor games and events), beginning this fall.
