Craig Curry

2012 Year End Review

by: Craig Curry

posted in: The Stuff of Life

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

As 2012 winds its way down, I thought I’d take a few moments to say THANK YOU to everyone who continues to support and encourage my composing and arranging. It has been a busy year as always, and for a musician, that’s a GOOD thing. I literally could not do this without you! Without your patronage, my music would be a nice hobby instead of a career.

I would also like to say thanks to a few folks/groups of people that helped make my 2012 an especially good year.

1. This probably goes without saying, but I thank God for the opportunities He gives me and the mercy and love He shows me daily. He is my Center, and I’m grateful for all He has done, is doing, and will do for me.

2. My wife. God’s greatest gift to me outside of a relationship with Him, is my wife Amy. She, more than anyone, knows my faults, lives with my weaknesses, and still loves me. She is a true helper to me; my life would be so much poorer without her in it, and I thank God for the gift she is to me. She makes me aspire to be a better man, and encourages me in my quest to become one.

3. My kids. I delight in seeing my kids grow and develop and mature, and I marvel at the people they are becoming. Plus they are a lot of fun. I never thought I would ever attend so many volleyball, cross-country, track, basketball games as I have this past year, but it’s been great to be there and support my kids.

4. My students. I direct the Friends University Jazz Vocal Ensemble, and the group has had an achievement-filled 2012. In February, they performed for the Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) convention, and then were invited to performed at the Jazz Education Network conference in Atlanta in January. They have worked very diligently and put in lots of extra hours to prepare for these performances, and I am grateful for their dedication. And I just really enjoy being with and around them.

5. My editors/publishers. I am grateful my composing and arranging is part of a national distribution system, and I’m grateful that various editors and publishers invite me to continue to write music for their companies.

6. My musical colleagues. I play/perform occasionally in a variety of settings: leading worship at church, accompanying singers, performing as a guest artist, traveling as a consultant/clinician at other churches. To all the musicians and church musicians I’ve worked with this past year, I say, “Thank you. It was a real pleasure working with you.”

7. My customers/clients. None of what I do would be possible if people didn’t actually buy and use my music. So I say a special word of thanks to those who bought a piano book, CD, play-along track, or a choir anthem this year. And special thanks to those of you who take time to write occasionally and let me know you’ve performed my music, or shared a YouTube link, or a magazine review of my music. I appreciate hearing and seeing how my music is used, and that helps inspire me to keep writing.

Who knows what 2013 will bring, but I pray it is a year of musical and spiritual growth for us all.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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New Piano Music for Christmas Releases

by: Craig Curry

posted in: Composing/Arranging News Releases

Thursday, September 13, 2012

I was pleased to be included in a new collection of Christmas piano arrangements that has just released, “The Essential Collection for Christmas.” This collection includes four of my arrangements, “The Birthday of a King,” “Mary Had a Baby,” “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” and “Wonderful Child.” By my count, the book includes a whopping 46 arrangements by many notable arrangers including Joel Raney, Larry Shackley, Lloyd Larson, Cindy Berry, and Patti Drennan.

Of my four arrangements,...

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