Andrew Craft
Andrew Craft is the Director of Arts Education and Summer Enrichment Programs for Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools. Prior to taking the role as Director of Arts Education, Mr. Craft served as the music supervisor for the school system where he conducted professional development, visited teachers and provided classroom feedback, and organized all district music events. He also enjoyed success as a middle and high school band director prior to his role as a supervisor. His concert and jazz bands have earned numerous ‘Superior” ratings at Music Performance Adjudication (MPA), his marching bands have received multiple marching “Band of the Day” grand championships, and he consistently had the highest number of students receive placements in audition based honors ensembles. Under his direction, the Reagan High School Jazz Ensemble I and Wind Ensemble were accepted and performed at the prestigious North Carolina Music Educators Association Professional Development Conference. That same year the marching Band of Raiders was invited to and performed in the 2016 London New Year’s Day Parade. He was selected by his peers as the Forsyth County Band Director of the Year (2013), Reagan High School Teacher of the Year (2014), and received the American School Band Directors Association’s (ASBDA) Encore Award in 2014. He was inducted into the ASBDA in 2016 and was inducted into the Reagan High School Hall of Fame in 2021.
In addition to his teaching and administrative responsibilities, Mr. Craft has instructed conducting and leadership activities at both the Bands of America Drum Major Institute and the Western Carolina University Drum Major and Leadership Academy. He has served on the North Carolina Music Educators Association Board as Music Program Leader chair and as the Northwest District Bandmasters Association Chair. He is also in demand as a clinician, arranger, and drill writer for competitive marching bands across the southeastern United States and frequently speaks to music education classes at colleges and universities on current issues in public education.
Mr. Craft holds Bachelor of Science in Instrumental Music Education from Western Carolina University and a Master of Music degree in Saxophone Performance from the University of Massachusetts. He studied conducting and score study with Frank Battisti, drill design with Bob Buckner, and saxophone with Lynn Klock. After completing the WSFCS Explorers and Trailblazers programs for prospective administrators, he received his Post-Masters Degree in School Administration from Gardner-Webb University in 2018. His professional affiliations include National Association for Music Education, North Carolina Music Educators Association, Pi Lambda Theta Honor Society, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the North American Saxophone Alliance, the American School Band Directors Association and is a NC Teaching Fellow.
In addition to his teaching and administrative responsibilities, Mr. Craft has instructed conducting and leadership activities at both the Bands of America Drum Major Institute and the Western Carolina University Drum Major and Leadership Academy. He has served on the North Carolina Music Educators Association Board as Music Program Leader chair and as the Northwest District Bandmasters Association Chair. He is also in demand as a clinician, arranger, and drill writer for competitive marching bands across the southeastern United States and frequently speaks to music education classes at colleges and universities on current issues in public education.
Mr. Craft holds Bachelor of Science in Instrumental Music Education from Western Carolina University and a Master of Music degree in Saxophone Performance from the University of Massachusetts. He studied conducting and score study with Frank Battisti, drill design with Bob Buckner, and saxophone with Lynn Klock. After completing the WSFCS Explorers and Trailblazers programs for prospective administrators, he received his Post-Masters Degree in School Administration from Gardner-Webb University in 2018. His professional affiliations include National Association for Music Education, North Carolina Music Educators Association, Pi Lambda Theta Honor Society, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the North American Saxophone Alliance, the American School Band Directors Association and is a NC Teaching Fellow.