Craig S. Cornish is the Director of Athletic Bands and Director of the Band of Blue Marching Band at Middle Tennessee State University. His responsibilities include serving as conductor of the M.T.S.U. Symphonic Band, coordinator of the athletic bands, and teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in music education. He is a Professor of Music.

Prior to coming to Murfreesboro, Prof. Cornish held a similar position at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. The UNL Cornhusker Marching Band was seen by millions of viewers and spectators in the 1998 Holiday Bowl, the 1999 Fiesta Bowl, the 2000 Alamo Bowl, and the 2001 Tournament of Roses and Parade. The University of Nebraska Symphonic Band performed for several state and regional conventions. He was honored for his efforts at Nebraska as a four-time recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Students Award. He has won a similar award here at MTSU 12 of his 13 years on campus. In 2007, Professor Cornish was recognized with the MTSU Foundation Outstanding Teaching Award, an honor bestowed on less than one percent of the MTSU Faculty. Furthermore, the College Band Directors National Association recognized the MTSU Band of Blue as one of the premier college marching bands in the United States by a video presentation at the 2007 bi-annual convention in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Recently, Professor Cornish was named "Professor of the Month" by the Lambda Sigma National Honor Society, and "Favorite MTSU Professor" by the Daily News Journal Ruthies Awards.

Before joining the faculty at Nebraska, Cornish spent sixteen years in Kentucky directing high school bands at LaRue County High School, North Hardin High School, and at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. His high school bands received many honors and awards, including four Kentucky Music Educators State Marching Band Championships, three Contest of Champions Grand Championships, consecutive superior ratings at district and state concert band festivals, two invitations to perform at the Kentucky Music Educators In-Service Conference, and the 1996 Sudler Trophy for high school marching bands. A highlight of Professor Cornish's career came with an invitation for his North Hardin High School Symphonic Band to perform at the 1988 Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic, recognizing the North Hardin Band as one of the premier high school concert ensembles in the United States.

Holding undergraduate and graduate music education degrees from the University of Kentucky, Prof. Cornish is a member and the Immediate Past President/ Vice President of the Middle Tennessee State Band and Orchestra Association, and is a member of the National Band Association, the National Association for Music Education, the Tennessee Music Educators Association, Phi Beta Mu, the Tennessee Bandmasters Association, and is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Pi Kappa Lambda. Honors awarded to Cornish include four National Band Association Citations of Merit for Marching Excellence, four National Band Association Certificates of Merit for Outstanding Achievement in Concert Band, three selections to Who's Who of American Teachers, the Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic Medal of Honor, the 1986 Hardin County Teacher of the Year Award, the 1988 Kentucky Music Educators Association's District Music Teacher of the Year Award, the 1996 Phi Beta Mu Kentucky Bandmaster of the Year Award, and the 2007 MTSU Foundation Outstanding Teaching Award. He is a professional marching band show designer, having written over 200 award-winning marching shows during a thirty-five year career. He is active as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States.

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