Craig Incontro
Alto Saxophone
Craig is a woodwind performer with over 45 years of professional experience in both commercial and classical settings. Born and raised in Los Angeles, He was exposed to a rich music culture. In California, Craig was an active freelancer, doing both live and recording work as well as touring with several Broadway shows and regional opera companies. Craig has performed with Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra Jr., Barry Manilow, Gregory Hines, The Carpenters, The Three Irish Tenors, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Cleo Lane, 10,000 Maniacs, Bill Watrus, Lionel Hampton, Doc Severinsen, The Chautauqua Symphony and many more. As a regular member of the pit orchestra at Shea’s Performing Arts Center, he has performing in A Chorus Line, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Sound of Music, Peter Pan, Pippin, Motown the Musical, White Christmas—many of these shows multiple times. He is also a saxophonist in the Western New York Big Band and has been a member of the Buffalo Brass Big Band, the Western New York Jazz Orchestra and Buffalo Swing. As an oboist and english hornist, he has performed under the baton of many legends including Zubin Mehta, Sir Neville Mariner and Leonard Bernstein. Craig was also 2nd oboist in the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra.
Craig Incontro taught High School Band for 32 years at Amherst Central High School in Snyder, New York and Highline High School outside of Seattle Washington before his retirement in 2020. His groups earned level 6 A+ ‘Gold with Distinction’ ratings, as well as top honorshat many local and national concert, jazz and parade competitions. Mr. Incontro received the 2005 Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Erie County Council of Music Coordinators Award for Excellence in Music Education for Instrumental Music. His groups were well known for their high standard of performance, individual musical growth, music literacy and student leadership. Many of his former students have gone on to become professional performers and educators.
Craig holds a bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Southern California (USC) in music performance. His teachers over the years include Bill Criss, David Weiss and Gordon Schonberg for oboe, and Ernie Watts, Dr. Thom Mason and Leo Potts for saxophone and woodwinds.
Over the years he has maintained a teaching studio for oboe, saxophone, and other woodwinds. Craig served as the ECMEA Jazz Festival Chairman and host for 19 years, co-chaired and directed the Lewiston Jazz Festival Erie/Niagara County High School All-Star Big Band, co-hosted the Zone 1 NYSSMA Sr. High Area All-State and has presented at the NYSSMA conference. He has also directed the Jazz Ensemble at Canisius College and has served as an adjunct instructor at the University of Southern California(USC) and at SUNY Fredonia. During his summers he has conducted the bands at the Crane Youth Music Camp at SUNY Potsdam. Craig lives in Snyder, NY with his wife Pam and their adult children Annie, Matthew and Ben and their 3 puppies.