ARTSEMPOWERINGLIFE

About the Leaders

About Ray E. Cramer

Ray E. Cramer holds degrees from Western Illinois University and the University of Iowa, Honorary Doctorates from Western Illinois University and the VanderCook College of Music. In 2009 he was awarded an Honorary Professorship at the Musashino Academia of Musicae in Tokyo.

Ray E. Cramer was a member of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music faculty for 36 years. As the Director of Bands the IU Wind Ensemble earned an international reputation for outstanding musical performances including a 2003 performance at The Midwest Clinic.

He is a past National President of the College Band Directors National Association and The American Bandmasters Association. He also served as president of the Indiana Bandmasters Association, the North Central Division of CBDNA and the Big Ten Band Directors Association. He was a member of the Midwest Clinic Board of Directors for 20 years and was president 13 of those 20 years. He is an Advisory Board member for the Japan Band Clinic and was elected as an Honorary Member of the Japan Band Directors Association in 2016.

Mr. Cramer has received numerous awards including the Edwin Franko Goldman award (2002), The MENC Lowell Mason Fellow Medallion (2003), Midwest Clinic Medal of Honor (2005), Bands of America Hall of Fame (2006), The Northshore Concert Band Lifetime Achievement Award (2006), the 17th Japan Academic Society of Winds, Percussion and Band Award (2007), The Academy of Wind and Percussion Arts by the National Band Association (2008), the John Paynter Lifetime Achievement Award (2009) the National Band Association “Hall of Fame of Distinguished Conductors” (2009) and the CBDNA “Lifetime Achievement Award.” (2015)

Mr. Cramer remains actively involved in clinics and guest conducting engagements nationally and internationally. He serves as a regular guest conductor for the Musashino Academy of Music in Tokyo. (1990 to present) He has conducted the Musashino Wind Ensemble on tours throughout Japan and three performances at the Midwest Clinic in 1995, 2006 and 2018.

He and his wife Molly of 61 years, reside in Colorado Springs

About Craig Harms

Director & Conductor for Woodland Park Wind Symphony
Almost from the beginning, Craig has been the principal consultant for product education for Pygraphics, developer of Pyware Charting Aid and 3D Drill Design Software. He developed successful band programs during his 25 years of teaching which culminated in his teaching in London, England, as a Fulbright Teacher. In 1986, he left public school teaching to develop full time to his own Visual Design and Pyware Consulting Company, Creative Consultation Service and continued association with Pygraphics. In addition to developing www.bandfo.com featuring Pyware 3D Webinars, Craig has been called as principal presenter of Pyware 3D Software and Drill Design. He has for the past 6 years taught the Vandercook College Pyware Online Couse and for the past 10 years developed and presented the curriculum for the highly acclaimed Arts Empowering Life Pyware Drill Design Retreat in Orleans, MA.

About Paul Tingley

Conductor & Co-Director for Outer Cape Winds
Paul Tingley recently received his DMA from the Eastman School of Music, having studied with Douglas Prosser and James Thompson. He received his BM from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam in 1992. Paul’s musical inspiration has been as a member of Arts Empowering Life and its world- renowned choir, Gloriæ Dei Cantores, under the batons of Elizabeth Patterson and Richard Pugsley. While in the choir, Paul performed in concert halls and churches in 23 different countries and sang on the annual Boston Pops Christmas concert tours from 1995 2005. Paul was involved in over 40 commercial recordings with the group, either as a member of the choir, as a trumpet soloist, or as assistant producer. Paul was a member of the Spirit of America Band since its inception in the mid-1970s. Paul played trumpet and assisted in leading workshops with students both domestically and internationally. The band was the silver medalist at the WAMSB competition in Calgary in 2000 and the gold medal winner at the same competition in South Korea in 2006. Paul has been a member of the Gabriel V brass ensemble, performed on multiple recordings, and served as producer on two recent recordings, Christmas in Brass and For the Beauty of the Earth. The ensemble also performed at the 900th Anniversary celebration of the Basilica at San Marco in Venice.

While at Eastman Paul played in the Wind Ensemble and the Philharmonia. With the Wind Ensemble he shared the stage with the Canadian Brass. Paul also played principal trumpet under the baton of Leonard Slatkin in the fall of 2019 with the Eastman Philharmonia in a concert of the music of distinguished Eastman alumni Jeff Beal. Paul is currently the program coordinator for the Arts Empowering Life Performing Arts Center in Brewster, Massachusetts.

About Sr. Chris Helfrich

Co-Director for Outer Cape Winds
A native of the Midwest, Sr. Chris has had the great privilege of participating in marching, concert and Symphonic bands. She began clarinet studies in Elementary school and continued with private instruction and Summer Programs at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Sr. Chris has studied with the late Attilio Poto, former clarinetist with the Metropolitan Opera under the direction of Toscanini, as well as Julie Vaverka, and most recently, Aline Benoit.

She took vows as a religious Sister at the Community of Jesus in 1974, and continued her call to teaching and playing as one of the founding members of Spirit of America Band. Her musical interests and loves also include singing as a member of Gloriae Dei Cantores and Gregorian Chant. She has performed for over 60 years, including concert tours to 25 countries, and across the United States in many various concert halls and Churches, sharing her love of music with audiences young and old.