Craig Suhusky

Teaches: Clarinet and Saxophone

Craig has taught at The Music Center since 1996 (before it was even called The Music Center!). He enjoys the diverse music repertoire at the center but also the wide range of students he gets to meet and teach. Craig strives to develop a rapport with all students while embracing their unique personalities and needs. Once a connection is made, he works with each student to map their own woodwind learning journey. While Craig has mastered the clarinet and saxophone, he has studied all band instruments and the piano. He credits his love for performing to his childhood band director, Steven Working, whom he played for from fourth grade through high school, leaving an indelible imprint of what music is meant to be. Craig is a familiar face in the Southwest Michigan musical community, performing with chamber groups, pit orchestras, and symphony orchestras. He has also been a clarinetist for the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra since 1980. He is an adjunct faculty member at Olivet College, teaching private clarinet lessons, chamber music, and single-read music classes for band directors. In addition to his successful musical career, Craig has served as a Band Director in public schools. A favorite musical memory of Craig’s is achieving a solo nomination for the Youth Arts Festival in Michigan, one of ten soloists and the only clarinet player in the group of finalists. Craig holds a Bachelor of Music from Western Michigan University, majoring in Music Education, and a Master of Music from Michigan State University, majoring in Clarinet Performance. He also has a Michigan Secondary Provision Teaching Certificate and is a judge for solo and ensemble festivals. Craig enjoys walking, biking, and getting lost in a good book or movie.