TODD CRANSON (tuba: todd@hotmusic.org) is the General Director of the Hot Springs Music Festival and Adjunct Professor of Tuba and Bass Trombone at Henderson State University.
In additon to his administrative duties with the Hot Springs Music Festival, Todd teaches and performs as the Music Festival’s Tuba Mentor. He was formerly on the faculty at the University of Illinois Springfield where he directed the UIS Band and Chamber Orchestra, and he is the former Artistic Director of the Vintage Brass Band of Springfield, Illinois.
Todd also performs historic American band music with the Great Western Rocky Mountain Brass Band of Silverton, Colorado and the New England-based Yankee Brass Band. He is currently a DMA candidate at the University of Illinois studying tuba with Mark Moore. Current research, performance, and recording projects focus on 19th Century American band and dance orchestra music.
Todd received his Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from Louisiana State University where he studied tuba with Larry Campbell. He received his Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Arkansas and was a tuba student of Kabin Thomas. Before receiving a Post Graduate Diploma with distinction in performance from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England where he studied with Roger Bobo, James Gourlay, and Mel Culbertson, he was Director of Bands at Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, Louisiana.
Todd is married to tuba player and professional brewer/distiller Rose Schweikhart Cranson.
Apprentice applications:
Include 2 contrasting solos or contrasting movements of one solo piece and 4 excerpts of your choice. One solo may be replaced by an etude.
