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Professor Emeritus, University of Texas

Following a distinguished 33 year teaching career, Professor Paula A. Crider continues to share her passion for making music through an active schedule as guest conductor, lecturer, clinician and adjudicator. She has enjoyed engagements in 48 states, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, Singapore, Italy Germany, Spain and Australia. She is a professor at the University of Texas where she was twice awarded the “Eyes of Texas” award for distinguished teaching.

Professor Crider has taught in public schools at all levels and holds the unique distinction of being the first female in the state of Texas to serve as Director of Bands at a class 5A high school. Her Crockett High School bands in Austin, Texas, earned twelve consecutive U. I. L. Sweepstakes awards for musical excellence, received national recognition on the concert stage, and were twice named Texas 5A State Marching Champions. Ms. Crider was the recipient of the National Band Association's “Citation of Excellence,” presented by Dr. William J. Revelli for her band's performance at the NBA national convention.

During her tenure at the University of Texas, Professor Crider conducted the Symphony Band, the Longhorn Marching and Concert Bands, and served as instructor for undergraduate conducting, brass methods, graduate wind literature, supervised student teachers and served as administrator for the Longhorn Music Camps. Highly acclaimed for its musical and marching excellence, the 380 member Longhorn Bands enjoyed national acclaim under her leadership. She has also served as Interim Director of Bands at Columbus State University, and at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She continues to serve as visiting guest professor at universities throughout the country.

Prof. Crider has written numerous articles for The Instrumentalist, The Band Director's Guide, and the National Band Association Journal. She has published manuals for brass techniques, marching band methods and instrumental conducting, and is co-author for the Hal Leonard Masterwork Studies series, a text for high school bands. She has recently completed The Composer's Legacy, Conductors on Conducting for Wind Band published by GIA.

Prof. Crider has presented professional teacher seminars throughout the United States and continues to work with talented young students in student leadership workshops. She serves as coordinator for the National Band Association Young Conductor/Mentor Program, and was recently appointed to the Conn/Selmer Educational Board. Professor Crider is a past president of the National Band Association and she is immediate past president of the American Bandmaster's Association

Awards and honors include the Tau Beta Sigma/Kappa Kappa Psi “Outstanding Service to Music Award,” the Sudler “Legion of Merit,” The Women Band Director's International Rose, the Grainger Society Medal, the Kappa Kappa Psi Bo Makvosky Memorial Award, and the Midwest Medal of Honor.

In 2004, she was named the Bandmaster of the Year by the Texas Bandmaster's Association. She considers her greatest honor, however, to be the privilege of working with all who share a passion for excellence in making music.