Paul K. Kreider, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication at Western Illinois University, has been named dean of the College of Creative Arts at West Virginia University.
“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Kreider to the Mountaineer family,” said Michele Wheatly, WVU provost and vice president for academic affairs. “His reputation as a top-rate performer, professor and administrator will serve the College of Creative Arts well. We are excited to have him lead several important projects within Creative Arts, such as the design and construction of the art museum and initiatives to increase enrollment.”
Kreider has served as a professor and administrator in multiple universities and has performed across the world in famous operas.
“I am honored to be offered the position of dean in the College of Creative Arts at WVU,” Kreider said. “I am looking forward to working inclusively with the excellent faculty and administration in this vibrant college to expand undergraduate and graduate program offerings and to elevate the national stature of its programs.
“I also look forward to working with the community to strengthen the role of the CCA throughout the state and region with regard to arts programming.”
He said his wife, Rebecca, and daughters, Jenna, 15, and Ally, 11, look forward to living in Morgantown.
Kreider is expected to start as dean on June 30.
Prior to serving as dean at Western Illinois, he was the chair of the Department of Music at Northern Kentucky University; associate dean of the College of Fine Arts at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; chair and assistant chair, coordinator of Vocal Studies and director of Opera Theater at the department of music at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and instructor at West Chester University.
Kreider earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and received his master’s degree in music and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Arizona. He also studied music and theater at Mankato State University.
Kreider co-founded the Southern Nevada Opera Association, won a Teacher of the Year award at UNLV and is a Distinguished Alumnus from the University of Arizona School of Music.
He served as a board member of the Illinois Arts Alliance and the International Council of Fine Arts Deans. Kreider has also been a member of the music and Partner’s in Excellence panels for the Illinois Arts Council.
Kreider’s many performing credits include numerous roles with the Lyric Opera of Chicago for six seasons, and as principal baritone with the Landestheater Salzburg for three years. In addition, Kreider has also appeared throughout the world with world-renowned singers, conductors, and stage directors at the Vienna State Opera, Maggio Musicale in Florence, Atlanta Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, National Opera of Slovenia, and in Rome, Santa Fe, and Tokyo, Japan. Symphonic credits include the Great Woods Festival, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Austria’s Mozarteum Orchestra, Tucson Symphony, Las Vegas Philharmonic, the New Mexico Symphony in performances of Off’s “Carmina Burana,” the Illinois Symphony in Brahms’ “Requiem,” and most recently with the Kentucky Symphony.
Kreider’s most recent recordings feature the works of composer Daron Hagen. Kreider sings three Hagen song cycles on a CD entitled “Love in A Life,” released by Arsis Audio. He also recorded another project for Arsis as a guest with the Baylor University Wind Ensemble production of Hagen’s “Heart of the Stranger.” CRI Records released Hagen’s “Vera of Las Vegas” in 2002, which features Kreider. His most recent release is an American art song recording through Arsis entitled “Four Composers and One Voice” and is accompanied by composers Ned Rorem, David Del Tredici, Daron Hagen, and Virko Baley, each on one of their song cycles.
The College of Creative Arts, one of 13 colleges within WVU, is noted for offering the state’s premiere education and training in the performing and visual arts to approximately 675 majors with 120 faculty and professional staff. The college comprises three nationally accredited (NASAD, NASM and NAST) divisions of Art & Design, Music, and Theatre & Dance. Through creative activity and research, the college provides an educational environment for the exploration, advancement and understanding of the Arts and serves the University community and the people of the State with rigorously high levels of intellectual, creative and cultural experiences.
Dana Brooks, dean of WVU’s College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, led the search committee that chose three candidates from a pool of applicants to visit campus in February and March.
-WVU-
dm/03/31/11
CONTACT: WVU University Relations/News
304-293-6997
Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.