The Famous Maroon Band of Mississippi State University is a vital part of the Bulldog game day atmosphere – hearing “Hail State” when touchdowns are scored, watching high-energy halftime shows and hearing the alma mater regardless of whether the game was a win or loss are some of the obvious contributions from the band. The MSU band program is under the direction of a triad of individuals who do much more than wear maroon blazers and wave their arms on a podium in the stands. These directors write music, conduct spring concert bands and are able to learn the names of every single student (300+) in the marching band by the end of band camp. One of these directors is associate director of bands, Craig Aarhus.
An Alabama native, Aarhus first got involved in music in junior high band.
“I had good teachers (band directors) that piqued my interest in music. I enjoyed playing, and I liked what they did,” he said.
Aarhus attended Auburn University for his undergraduate degree but did not immediately pursue music.
“I originally was not a music major. I was in the university band, and I was in a fraternity and even had some political ambitions on campus,” he said. “However, I had some friends who were music majors, and after some time, I realized my calling was to teach music.”
At Auburn, he served as the drum major of the marching band for three years before graduating with his degree in music education. After graduating, he taught high school band in Alabama for three years before venturing to the University of Iowa for his master’s degree.
“I had the opportunity to go to University of Iowa for grad school as a graduate assistant. I knew some of the band staff at Iowa, and I wanted to experience a different part of the country,” he said. “When my wife and I moved there, we didn’t know a soul. We got to make new friends and begin our lives together as a couple on our own, and I’m very thankful for my time there.”
Still, even after obtaining a master’s degree, Aarhus said he never imagined he would be working as a college band director in the SEC.
“I really enjoyed teaching high school. I never thought I would teach a college band,” he said. “I wanted to just teach music.”
After he finished his master’s, he found employment at MSU. He took a year to go back to Iowa to get his doctorate, and has been a part of the Bulldog family ever since.
“I never thought it (getting a PhD) would happen when it did. I believe that my education path brought me to where I am, and I love my job. Teaching college has a different set of challenges than teaching high school, but it also has a different set of rewards,” he said.
Being an associate director of bands, he works alongside Elva Kay Lance, director of bands, as well as Clifton Taylor, associate director of bands. Aarhus said one of the best parts of being a band director was cultivating student leaders.
“We try to show the example of leading by serving,” he said.
During the spring semesters, Aarhus conducts the MSU Campus Band as well as the MSU Community Band, an ensemble with a mix of MSU students as well as community members.
Aside from being a band director, Aarhus has also taught various courses in the Department of Music such as brass techniques and beginning conducting. He also supervises student teachers.
When he is not on campus, Aarhus enjoys spending time with his wife, Amy, and his two children, Jack and Molly Kate. He also enjoys playing tennis and is the choir director for the First Presbyterian Church of Starkville.