Paula Crider

Paula Crider is Past President of the National Band Association. She has been a member of NBA since 1969. Following a distinguished thirty-three year teaching career, Professor Crider continues to work with young musicians, and has served as guest conductor, lecturer and adjudicator in twenty-nine states, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

Prior to her seventeen years of service on the faculty of the University of Texas, Ms. Crider enjoyed 16 years of public school teaching. She has taught at all levels, and holds the distinction of having been the first female in the State of Texas to serve as Director of Bands at a class 5-A high school.

Her Crockett High School Bands in Austin, Texas earned numerous awards and honors, performed for national conventions, and were twice named Texas State Class 5A Marching Band Champions. Her band's performance at the Second Biennial NBA Convention in Knoxville, Tennessee remains a most memorable event in her musical career.

Professor Crider retired from The University of Texas in 1999 where she served as director of the renown University of Texas Longhorn Band. While at the university she taught conducting, brass techniques, and marching band methods; supervised student teachers; and conducted the Symphony Band.

Honors and awards include the "Eyes of Texas" awards for teaching excellence, the Tau Beta Sigma/Kappa Kappa Psi "Outstanding Service to Music" award, the Sudler " Legion of Merit," and the Texas Bandmaster's "Meritorious Achievement" Award. She is a member of the prestigious American Bandmaster's Association, and is the third woman to have been so honored.