Dr. Craig Fuchs, conductor
Dr. Craig Fuchs is University Professor of Music, Director of the Honors College, and Director of the Bachelor of General Studies Program at Pittsburg State University. Dr. Fuchs holds degrees in music education from Missouri Western State University and the University of Missouri-Columbia. He holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. Dr. Fuchs had ten years of teaching experience in the public schools of Kansas and Missouri prior to moving to the collegiate level.
In his role as Director of the Honors College, Fuchs is responsible for the recruitment of high achieving students to the university, and facilitating an enriched academic experience during their time at PSU. Through specialized general education course offerings, on-campus workshops, off-campus experiences, study abroad, and international travel experiences, Honors College students are given the opportunity to expand their educational experiences in a variety of ways.
In the musical realm, Dr. Fuchs has had numerous articles published in The Instrumentalist magazine. Under his leadership, the PSU Wind Ensemble performed at the 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2016 KMEA Music Conventions. Dr. Fuchs is in high demand as a conductor/clinician for regional and district honor bands as well as maintaining an active schedule as an adjudicator in the marching band arena each fall. Fuchs is the Conductor and Artistic Director of the Four State Symphonic Winds, an adult band from the four state region. This ensemble recently performed at the 81st Missouri Music Educators Association Conference in January of 2019.
Dr. Fuchs' international conducting and adjudication experiences have taken him to England, France, and The Netherlands. In 2009 and 2010, Fuchs expanded this international experience to South America where he appeared as a guest conductor with the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional del Paraguay in Ascuncion, Paraguay. As a guest of the orchestra and the US Embassy in Paraguay, Fuchs conducted one of the ten subscription series concerts of this ensemble each summer. While in Paraguay, he was also invited to work with the Conservatory Band and the National Police Academy Band. Fuchs made a return trip to Paraguay in the summer of 2013 to once again conduct the OSN, as well as serve as the Festival Orchestra Conductor of the 3rd FADA International Music Festival.
In November of 2010, Fuchs traveled to Forteleza, Brazil where he appeared as guest conductor of the Orquestra de Camara Eleazar de Carvalho, a professional chamber orchestra in northeast Brazil. In addition, he also conducted two concerts of the Pindoretama Wind Orchestra, a student orchestra based in Pindoretama, Brazil. Fuchs made a return trip to Brazil in 2018 where he once again conducted concerts with the ensemble.
Dr. Fuchs was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from Missouri Western State University in October of 2010 and was honored with the Robert K. Ratzlaff Outstanding Faculty Award in 2001 and 2012 by the Student Government Association from student nominees of faculty that demonstrate excellence in instruction and service to students on campus.
In his role as Director of the Honors College, Fuchs is responsible for the recruitment of high achieving students to the university, and facilitating an enriched academic experience during their time at PSU. Through specialized general education course offerings, on-campus workshops, off-campus experiences, study abroad, and international travel experiences, Honors College students are given the opportunity to expand their educational experiences in a variety of ways.
In the musical realm, Dr. Fuchs has had numerous articles published in The Instrumentalist magazine. Under his leadership, the PSU Wind Ensemble performed at the 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2016 KMEA Music Conventions. Dr. Fuchs is in high demand as a conductor/clinician for regional and district honor bands as well as maintaining an active schedule as an adjudicator in the marching band arena each fall. Fuchs is the Conductor and Artistic Director of the Four State Symphonic Winds, an adult band from the four state region. This ensemble recently performed at the 81st Missouri Music Educators Association Conference in January of 2019.
Dr. Fuchs' international conducting and adjudication experiences have taken him to England, France, and The Netherlands. In 2009 and 2010, Fuchs expanded this international experience to South America where he appeared as a guest conductor with the Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional del Paraguay in Ascuncion, Paraguay. As a guest of the orchestra and the US Embassy in Paraguay, Fuchs conducted one of the ten subscription series concerts of this ensemble each summer. While in Paraguay, he was also invited to work with the Conservatory Band and the National Police Academy Band. Fuchs made a return trip to Paraguay in the summer of 2013 to once again conduct the OSN, as well as serve as the Festival Orchestra Conductor of the 3rd FADA International Music Festival.
In November of 2010, Fuchs traveled to Forteleza, Brazil where he appeared as guest conductor of the Orquestra de Camara Eleazar de Carvalho, a professional chamber orchestra in northeast Brazil. In addition, he also conducted two concerts of the Pindoretama Wind Orchestra, a student orchestra based in Pindoretama, Brazil. Fuchs made a return trip to Brazil in 2018 where he once again conducted concerts with the ensemble.
Dr. Fuchs was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from Missouri Western State University in October of 2010 and was honored with the Robert K. Ratzlaff Outstanding Faculty Award in 2001 and 2012 by the Student Government Association from student nominees of faculty that demonstrate excellence in instruction and service to students on campus.