Dr. Craig Shuler, 73, beloved father, friend, and musician, peacefully passed away on November 01, 2022 surrounded by his children. Craig was born on April 12, 1949 to James Edwin Shuler and Mary Lou Shuler, in Pittsburgh, PA. Enduring friendships with Rob Steigerwalt and Bill Schulz – the “Three Musketeers of Shady Side” – were established during his formative years attending Shady Side Academy, where he was co-editor of the Shady Side News, and lettered in Cross Country and Track. Driven by a deep love for music, he pursued a bachelor of music degree from North Texas State University, followed by master’s and doctoral degrees in composition from The Julliard School. While at Julliard, Craig studied with Elliott Carter and Roger Sessions, and was awarded the George Gershwin Memorial Foundation Scholarship and Alexander Gretchaninoff Memorial Prize. He also earned an ABD degree in musicology from New York University. Craig also studied composition, theory, musicology, conducting, and piano in Florence Italy; at Northwestern University, Evanstan, Ill., and with artists of the Chicago Symphony, New York Pro-Arte Chorale, and the Pittsburgh Symphony. Craig won a Fulbright fellowship for advanced study in composition with Maestro Luigi Dallapiccola in Florence, Italy, in 1974. He also received fellowships to MacDowell, the nation’s leading artist residency program, in 1973, 1976, and 2012.

Craig earned acclaim at just age 26, when he collaborated with choreographer Robert Weiss to write the score for a new ballet. In the previous 15 years, the American Ballet Theater in New York had only commissioned one other composer to write a score for a new ballet – Duke Ellington. The ballet, A Promise, was performed by Gelsey Kirkland and Ivan Nagy. Craig’s second original score for a new ballet, once again with Weiss’ choreography, was Awakening, which was performed by Gelsey Kirkland and Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Craig's professional life was dedicated to music in many forms. He was on the dance faculty at Julliard, teaching literature and materials of music, and he also taught composition at Julliard’s pre-college. Craig also taught at the collegiate level at Moravian College, Hartwick College, and SUNY Oneonta. He was heavily involved in the musical theatre scene in Oneonta, NY, directing, music directing, and producing many productions for Orpheus Theater, as well as many other productions around upstate New York, including Leatherstocking Theater Company, and directed the Oneonta Boy’s Choir. Craig’s deep spirituality also drove his involvement with many local churches as an organist, pianist, and music director.

Craig was blessed with love three times during his life. In 1970 he married Becky Pierpont, who remained a prominent fixture in his life long after their marriage. In 1976 he married Sandra Campbell, and it was through this marriage that Craig welcomed his first daughter, Genevieve – his Opus One. In 1992, Craig married his third love, Katrina Kiklowicz, and from this union Craig was blessed with three children: Ryan, Kayleigh, and Mira.

While Craig was known for his music, friendship, and faith, his greatest achievement and greatest joy in life came from his role as a father. Forever a kid at heart, Craig saw his four children as playmates, full of wonder, and above all else, he loved them deeply. 

Craig was predeceased by his mother and father. He is survived by his beloved children Genevieve, Ryan, Kayleigh, and Mira, as well as his brothers Bryan and James Shuler. A celebration of Craig’s life will be held Saturday, November 12 at Shineman Chapel on Hartwick’s Campus, at 11am. If you would like to make a contribution in Craig’s memory, in lieu of flowers, please reach out to Genevieve directly at genevieveshuler@gmail.com 

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