Joe Craig
Joe Craig joined the Larry A. Ryle High School Music Faculty in the summer of 2017 as Director of Bands. In the fall of 2017, the Ryle Marching Band was named a Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) 5A State Finalist for the first time in school history. The Marching Raiders were also a KMEA 5A State Finalist in 2019, 2021, 2022, and most recently in 2023. The Marching Raiders also recently performed in the 2022 Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Waikiki, HI.
In addition to the Marching Band, Mr. Craig oversees the Jazz Ensemble and the Honors Wind Symphony. The Honors Wind Symphony has been named an “Exemplary” ensemble at the KMEA District 6 Concert Assessment in 2018, 2022, 2023, and 2024. The Wind Symphony has also recently performed at the Music For All Concert Regional Concert Band Festival (2023), as well as a joint concert with the acclaimed University of Cincinnati- College Conservatory of Music Wind Symphony (2024).
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Prior to his time at Ryle, Mr. Craig taught at Beechwood High School in Ft. Mitchell Ky. During Mr. Craig’s tenure, the Beechwood Marching Band was an 11-time KMEA State Finalist, a 7-time KMEA State Champion, a 5-time Bands of America (BOA) National Semi-Finalist, and a 2-time BOA Class A National Champion. The Beechwood Jazz Ensemble was selected to perform at the 2010 KMEA Conference, the first group in Beechwood history to achieve this prestigious honor.
From 2011-2013, Mr. Craig was the Jazz Chair for KMEA, which oversees all Jazz activities at the KMEA conference. From 2014-2016, Mr. Craig served as the Band Chair for KMEA District 6, as well as the President of the Northern Kentucky Band Directors Association. Mr. Craig also served as the KMEA Band Chair and Chair-elect from 2018-2022. In 2007, 2011 and 2015, Mr. Craig was awarded the “Certificate of Merit for Marching Excellence” by the National Band Association. Mr. Craig was also awarded the Phi Beta Mu “Outstanding Young Band Director” for the state of Kentucky in February of 2014. Additionally, Mr.Craig was one of three finalists for the Overture Awards Outstanding Educator Award in 2016. Most recently, Mr. Craig was selected as the KMEA High School Teacher of the Year for 2021-2022.
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Mr. Craig received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Northern Kentucky University and his Master’s Degree in Saxophone Performance at the College Conservatory of Music (CCM) - University of Cincinnati. Mr. Craig has performed with the Cincinnati “Pops” Orchestra, the Kentucky Symphony, the CCM Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble, the Kentucky Intercollegiate Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble, the NKU Symphonic Winds and Jazz Ensemble, and numerous local professional ensembles. During his collegiate career, Mr. Craig was a featured soloist at NKU and CCM, a full scholarship recipient at both NKU and CCM, and a concerto competition winner. Mr. Craig is a Northern Kentucky native, and a graduate of Scott High School in Taylor Mill. Mr. Craig resides in Union with his wife Christina and his daughter Cecilia.
