CRAIG BOHMLER (b. 1956) is a composer/pianist/conductor whose works have been widely performed in North America and Europe. Primarily a composer for the singing theater and voice, Mr. Bohmler has seven musicals and three opera to his credit as well as numerous choral works and songs. His musical ENTER THE GUARDSMAN (written with Scott Wentworth and Marion Adler) took first prize in the International Musical of the Year Competition in Denmark. It opened September 1998 in London's West End and was nominated for "best musical" at the Olivier Awards. It had its American premiere at the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival and a subsequent Off-Broadway production. American Theatre Magazine names it the most performed new musical in the 2001-2002 season. THE ACHILLES HEEL (written with Mary Carol Warwick) commissioned and premiered by Houston Grand Opera, was first prize winner in the National Opera Association Competition. GUNMETAL BLUES (Wentworth and Adler) was presented at the Eugene O'Neill Center and workshopped at the Stratford Festival in Ontario. In addition to a successful Off-Broadway run, it has had over 100 productions in the U.S. and Canada. Other prizes include ASCAP and Dramatist Guild awards as well as two NEA grants and showcases with the National Music Theatre Alliance. The CD of the Laguna Playhouse production was released last October. Craig resides in both Los Gatos, CA and Scottsdale, AZ . He received a Meet-the-Composer grant through the San Jose Chamber Orchestra, which has commissioned a number of works. He regularly musical directs for American Musical Theatre of San Jose, San Jose Repertory Theatre, the Willows Theater, and is Master Coach for Opera San Jose. From 1992-1998, he served on the faculty of the school of music for San Jose State University. In May of 1998, he performed the world premiere of Michael Ching's piano concerto written for him with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra, and it was subsequently recorded for their premiere CD. His most recent opera THE TALE OF THE NUTCRACKER premiered in Opera San Jose's 1999-2000 season. His musical MOUNTAIN DAYS-the story of John Muir (written with Mary Bracken Phillips) premiered at the Concord Pavilion with the California Symphony and a cast of 85 in October, 2000, and an 1100 seat amphitheater was subsequently built so it could become an annual summer event. It had its 4th production this summer. Other Theatre projects include GRETEL AND HANSEL (written with Kate Hawley) commissioned by Shakespeare Santa Cruz, and THE MYSTERY OF WINCHESTER HOUSE (written with Mary Bracken Phillips) commissioned by the San Jose Repertory Theatre, HOW TO MAKE A MUSICAL(written with Marion and Adler and Marc Jacobs) for AMT and THE QUILTMAKER’S GIFT (written with Alan Prewitt and Steven Mark Kohn) for Phoenix Theatre Current Projects include composing music for the Stratford Festival of Canada, a large work-SISTERS (written with Mary Carol Warwick) for mixed chorus and orchestra (Santa Clara Arts Venture Grant) and SECAGAWEA(written with Mary Bracken Phillips) for the Willows Theatre (NEA grant) Mr. Bohmler was a conductor and member of the faculty for three years at the Banff Center for the Arts in Canada where his first opera was produced. He has been composer in residence at the Desert Foothills Music Festival and SUMUTE Opera/Music-Theater Festival in Finland. He has served on the staffs of the Houston Grand Opera, Aspen Music Festival, Musicians’ Clubs of America as well as conducted for the Calgary Philharmonic, the Houston Symphony and the Vancouver Opera. He conducted his song cycle SONGS OF STONE (written with Marion Adler) for the San Diego International Symphony which commisioned the work. Mr. Bohmler has served as musical director for the Phoenix Theater, Musical Theater of Arizona, and Chorus Master/Assistant Conductor for the Arizona Opera. He has designed numerous programs in aesthetic education for the Houston and Nashville Institutes as well as The Arizona Institute. for which he was a co-founder. He is published by MMB publishers, Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Samuel French, and Rogers and Hammerstein as well as recorded by Columbus, Centaur, Original Cast, and BMS records.