Following a distinguished 33 year teaching career, Paula Crider retired from The University of Texas in 1999 with the title of Professor Emeritus. She has enjoyed the honor of serving as guest conductor, lecturer or adjudicator in 34 states, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Australia. She has conducted 29 All-State Bands, taught at all levels, and continues to share her passion for the art of music making with students and directors throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Crider is not a Texas native, but as the saying goes, she got there as soon as she could! Born in Miami, Florida, Crider was raised in Tennessee and Mississippi, and it wasn't until her junior year in high school that she was lured by the magic of the trumpet and joined the Bay St. Louis (MS) high school band. A President's List Scholar, she graduated in 1967 with degrees in Music and English Literature from the University of Southern Mississippi. Crider began her teaching career in Mississippi, where in two years, she led the Purvis High School Band to their first All-Superior ratings in the school's history.

Crider then moved to Austin to begin graduate study at The University of Texas, and concurrently taught band and general music at Allen Jr. High School. Completing her Master's degree in Music Education in 1970, she was named the Director of Bands at Crockett High School in Austin, Texas. She holds the unique distinction of having been the first female in the State of Texas to serve as Director of Bands at a class 5A high school where the Crockett Bands earned 12 consecutive Sweepstakes Awards, and won first place State Marching Band Honors in 1980, and 1981. Ms. Crider was the recipient of the National Band Association's "Citation of Excellence" presented by Dr. William J. Revelli for her Crockett Band's performance at the NBA National Convention. While at Crockett, she was named "Teacher of the Year," and was one of three finalists in the Austin ISD for that honor.

In 1982 Crider joined the faculty of The University of Texas as Assistant Director of The Longhorn Bands, and in 1995 she was named Director of Longhorn Bands. While at UT, teaching opportunities included conducting the Symphony Band and Longhorn Concert Bands, serving as instructor for Conducting, Brass Methods, Marching Techniques, Writing Component for Music Majors, Graduate Wind Literature, supervisor of student teachers, and administrator for the Longhorn Music Camp. Highly acclaimed for its marching and musical excellence, the 380-member "Showband of the Southwest" enjoyed national acclaim under Crider's leadership.

Upon retiring from The University of Texas in 1999 with the academic rank of Full Professor, Crider earned the high honor of being granted the title of Professor Emeritus. Other awards and honors include two "Eyes of Texas" awards for excellence at The University of Texas, the Tau Beta Sigma/Kappa Kappa Psi Outstanding Service to Music Award, the Sudler Legion of Merit and the Texas Bandmaster's Association Lifetime Achievement Award. She is immediate Past President of the National Band Association, serves on the Board of Directors of the American Bandmaster's Association, was a charter member of the Texas Music Adjudicator's Association, and is a proud member of Phi Beta Mu, TBA and TMEA.

Paula Crider is most grateful for the knowledge gained from so many Texas colleagues who served as examples, set high standards, and were always willing to share their knowledge, and for the many generations of students whose unfailing desire to give their best was a constant inspiration. She is humbled by the honor of being named 2004 Texas Bandmaster, and considers this to represent the pinnacle of achievement for a Bb band director from a small town in Mississippi.