29/07/2024
The Susanville Symphony Society
Musician's Spotlight
Ray and Ann Craig
Another pair of charter members, the Craigs played in the Susanville Symphony for 18 years.
Maestro Ben Wade says "I first met Ray when he invited me to play with his Brass Quintet group Take 5." Those Musician's talents formed the initial momentum to forge the fledgling symphony. "Ray and Ann were such wonderful musicians, team players, selfless and dedicated."
Interview by Cherri Wade
Sprint 2022
Faithfulness, Loyalty, and Service
Faithfulness, loyalty, and service have always characterized the lives of Ray and Ann Craig. They have played in the Susanville Symphony since it began, both playing French horn, and have been key members of the Susanville community as teachers. He still plays with the symphony, though Ann has had to retire.
Ray and Ann met as freshmen in high school in Chico, California, at first competitors in the band and later happily married.
Ray began playing French horn in 7th grade in 1949, following three years of piano. Ann also began with piano, later adding trumpet and French horn. Both Ray and Ann did not consider being professional musicians, preferring the very important roles of teacher and to the students they hoped to inspire.
Both Ray and Ann played with the honor bands while at Chico High School, after which they attended Cal State Chico, Ray as a music major and Ann specializing in Physical Education. Ray then spent one year at the military base at Fort Ord as a band instructor, and then as an instructor in Germany.
After military service, the Craigs, married by now, spent three years in Weaverville, Ray teaching music and Ann raising their two girls. They moved to Susanville in 1966. Ann coached softball and field hockey and served as the librarian for the high school while Ray taught music at the high school, teaching there for the next 31 years. Faithfulness and service.
During those years, the Lassen High School band program was top rated for 18 consecutive years, with superior ratings for 28 of those 31 years. Ray would later be a judge at band competitions, serving in that capacity for 20 years.
Like other teachers, Ray saw that high school students from many different backgrounds and home situations were drawn into and had their lives enriched by the music program at the high school. Often at-risk students stayed in school simply because of the music program and what it brought to their lives, such as working in a group of likeminded students, accomplishing a goal, and making beautiful music.
During this time Ray and Ann were also involved with music in the community, playing in the Take 5 quintet. They also played with the alumni band at Cal State Chico. Other small groups of musicians were forming in Susanville during this time, these groups later coalescing into the Susanville Symphony. What began as a 15 member symphony is now a group of over 40 musicians preforming at a concert and Ray has commented that this was a dream come true.
Clearly music has always been very important to Ray and Ann. Ann loves playing with a cohesive group of likeminded musicians, and bringing beautiful music of all kinds to Susanville. Ray, as a teacher, always inspired his students by urging them to consider what they wanted to communicate through their instruments. As a musician myself, I know that not only a person's personality but sometimes deepest thoughts are expressed in their music. What riches this adds to a person's life.
As countless other symphony members have done, Ray and Ann have urged our school system administrators to add music instruction back into the elementary and middle school curriculums. It is essential for the health of our children and the continued success of our high school music program.
Over the years, Ray and Ann have had many opportunities to both play with and listen to professional music groups. One event that stands out for them occurred in 1962. Ray was playing with a military band that performed in the same stadium in Belin where Jesse Owens competed and won his Olympic events under the harsh gaze of Hi**er. But now it was 1962, and 110,000 Germans filled this same stadium each holding a candle and singing their national anthem. Ann was there as well, and the both found this event to be profoundly moving.
Faithfulness, loyalty, and service, not only to the symphony but to the community through teaching and music performance have always characterized the lives of Ray and Ann Craig.
Thank you for your service to our community.
Musician's Spotlight
Ray and Ann Craig
Another pair of charter members, the Craigs played in the Susanvle Symphony for 18 years.
Maestro Ben Wade says "I first met Ray when he invited me to play with his Brass Quintet group Take 5." Those Musician's talents formed the initial momentum to forge the fledgling symphony. "Ray and Ann were such wonderful musicians, team players, selfless and dedicated."
Interview by Cherri Wade
Sprint 2022
Faithfulness, Loyalty, and Service
Faithfulness, loyalty, and service have always characterized the lives of Ray and Ann Craig. They have played in the Susanville Symphony since it began, both playing French horn, and have been key members of the Susanville community as teachers. He still plays with the symphony, though Ann has had to retire.
Ray and Ann met as freshmen in high school in Chico, California, at first competitors in the band and later happily married.
Ray began playing French horn in 7th grade in 1949, following three years of piano. Ann also began with piano, later adding trumpet and French horn. Both Ray and Ann did not consider being professional musicians, preferring the very important roles of teacher and to the students they hoped to inspire.
Both Ray and Ann played with the honor bands while at Chico High School, after which they attended Cal State Chico, Ray as a music major and Ann specializing in Physical Education. Ray then spent one year at the military base at Fort Ord as a band instructor, and then as an instructor in Germany.
After military service, the Craigs, married by now, spent three years in Weaverville, Ray teaching music and Ann raising their two girls. They moved to Susanville in 1966. Ann coached softball and field hockey and served as the librarian for the high school while Ray taught music at the high school, teaching there for the next 31 years. Faithfulness and service.
During those years, the Lassen High School band program was top rated for 18 consecutive years, with superior ratings for 28 of those 31 years. Ray would later be a judge at band competitions, serving in that capacity for 20 years.
Like other teachers, Ray saw that high school students from many different backgrounds and home situations were drawn into and had their lives enriched by the music program at the high school. Often at-risk students stayed in school simply because of the music program and what it brought to their lives, such as working in a group of likeminded students, accomplishing a goal, and making beautiful music.
During this time Ray and Ann were also involved with music in the community, playing in the Take 5 quintet. They also played with the alumni band at Cal State Chico. Other small groups of musicians were forming in Susanville during this time, these groups later coalescing into the Susanville Symphony. What began as a 15 member symphony is now a group of over 40 musicians preforming at a concert and Ray has commented that this was a dream come true.
Clearly music has always been very important to Ray and Ann. Ann loves playing with a cohesive group of likeminded musicians, and bringing beautiful music of all kinds to Susanville. Ray, as a teacher, always inspired his students by urging them to consider what they wanted to communicate through their instruments. As a musician myself, I know that not only a person's personality but sometimes deepest thoughts are expressed in their music. What riches this adds to a person's life.
As countless other symphony members have done, Ray and Ann have urged our school system administrators to add music instruction back into the elementary and middle school curriculums. It is essential for the health of our children and the continued success of our high school music program.
Over the years, Ray and Ann have had many opportunities to both play with and listen to professional music groups. One event that stands out for them occurred in 1962. Ray was playing with a military band that performed in the same stadium in Belin where Jesse Owens competed and won his Olympic events under the harsh gaze of Hi**er. But now it was 1962, and 110,000 Germans filled this same stadium each holding a candle and singing their national anthem. Ann was there as well, and the both found this event to be profoundly moving.
Faithfulness, loyalty, and service, not only to the symphony but to the community through teaching and music performance have always characterized the lives of Ray and Ann Craig.
Thank you for your service to our community.
