Craig Fraedrich - Bio

 Born in Milwaukee in 1960, Craig's  first recollection of interest in the trumpet came when he was six years old and saw Al Hirt on television with Pete Fountain. It was this experience that led him to begin playing the trumpet.

He started playing in the fifth grade in Frankfort, Illinois. His first private lesson did not come until high school after the family moved back to Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. It was during this time that his interest in jazz began when for four consecutive years his high school band was chosen to perform with the Woody Herman Band as part of the annual Sister Fabian Scholarship Fund Benefit Concert.

Craig received his undergraduate degree from North Texas State University and Masters Degree from Arizona State University. He has also studied at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Banff Center for the Arts.

Since 1986 he has played jazz trumpet with the

Craig is a dedicated educator and has been a faculty member at the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music since 1989. His duties there have included teaching Applied Jazz Trumpet, Jazz Coaching (applied jazz lessons for any instrument) Music Theory, Jazz Arranging and Composition, Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Combo and has been the director of the Jazz Ensemble since 1999. A highlight of his tenure as director was the band's 2003 tour of Senegal, West Africa.

Craig has recorded eight CD's as a leader and appeared on numerous others. He has studied improvisation with Dave Liebman, Kenny Wheeler, Chuck Marohnic, Rich Matteson, Dan Hearle, Jack Peterson, and Frank Puzzullo. Additionally, he cites the remaining faculty at the Banff Centre for the Arts (1985- Dave Holland, John Abercrombie, Don Thompson, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, and Julian Priester) as major influences. His principal trumpet teachers have included Dennis Najoom, Dr. Leonard Candelaria, Don Jacoby, Dr. Wayne Cook, Steve Kossoris, Chuck Tumlinson and Ken Van Winkle.