Craig Kirchhoff is emeritus professor of conducting at the University of Minnesota. He joins the show to offer advice about conducting and teaching, and to discuss a career that included working with Frederick Fennell and the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra.

Topics:

• Craig’s lakefront cabin on the Canadian border and the legacy of Jim Croft.
• Craig’s background and training growing up in Milwaukee, some early teachers that influenced his career, and his first teaching jobs.
• Thoughts about teacher preparation and what young teachers need to be successful.
• Meeting Frederick Fennell, some thoughts about the great conductor, and how that changed the course of Craig’s career.
• Working with the Tokyo Kosei Wind Ensemble.
• Conducting skills and advice for young band directors who want to become better at their craft as conductors.
• The 80/20 rule.

Links:

• Craig Kirchhoff
• Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra
• Mozart: Serenade No. 10 "Gran Partita"
• Holst: First Suite in E-flat
• Schwantner: Sparrows

Biography:

Craig Kirchhoff is professor emeritus of conducting at the University of Minnesota. Born and educated in Wisconsin, Mr. Kirchhoff brings to his position a wide knowledge of both traditional and contemporary literature. He has won critical acclaim from composers Warren Benson, Henry Brant, Michael Colgrass, Karel Husa, Libby Larsen, George Perle, Vincent Persichetti, Stephen Paulus, Verne Reynolds, Gunther Schuller, Joseph Schwantner, Steven Stucky, Elliott Schwartz, Chen Yi, and others.

Mr. Kirchhoff is past president of the College Band Directors National Association and is a member of the American Bandmasters Association, the National Band Association, the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, and the Music Educators National Conference, and he served as the founding editor and principal advisor of the College Band Directors National Association Journal.

Professor Kirchhoff has appeared as guest conductor, clinician, and lecturer throughout the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Europe, and Scandinavia. Mr. Kirchhoff is a frequent guest conductor of the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra and has recorded with them on the Kosei Publishing label.

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