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Beloved music teacher, Howard E. Crawford, will be retiring from South Pasadena High School at the end of the current school year after an illustrious career full of not only hundreds of awards, but the love and gratitude of hundreds of students he has taught over the past 34 years. The SPHS Music Boosters are hosting a celebration of Mr. Crawford’s career and legacy on Saturday, June 1, 2024 from 2:00-4:00pm on the Tiger Patio at the high school. All are welcome.
Howard E. Crawford has been teaching music at South Pasadena High School since 1990. Chair of SPHS Visual and Performing Arts, he received his Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music-Jazz Studies from Howard University. Mr. Crawford has been honored as the South Pasadena Oneonta Club Teacher of the Year, the SPHS Harold Hartsough Teacher of the Year, and was a Music Center “BRAVO” Award Finalist for Outstanding Achievement in Arts Education. For over thirty years, he has led the SPHS Tiger Marching Band & Color Guard, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Advanced Orchestra, Jazz Band, Winterline, and Winterguard programs.
SPHS Principal John Eldred tells us, “Howard is that once in a lifetime teacher who spends essentially his whole career in the same school, meticulously and methodically building an instrumental music program from the ground up. His skill will be missed to be sure, but it is his personal touch that can never be replaced.”
When speaking to South Pasadenan’s Bill Glazier in 2019, Crawford thought about his longevity in the local school district, and gushed, “Wow, 30 years, I can’t believe I’ve been doing this for so long.”
He went on to say the time has flown by, appreciating the job that has become more of a lifestyle after all the time he’s spent in the classroom, adding, “Am I working? Yes, they’re paying me for what I’m doing, but it’s fun.”
Along with dozens and dozens of accolades at local and state competitions, Crawford has gathered and conducted the Minuteman Band each year for the 4th of July Festival of Balloons parade and has done so for 34 years. Comprised mainly of SPHS band members, Crawford is quick to point out that anyone with a musical talent can play in the Minutemen Band on the Fourth of July. Participants receive a colorful “Minutemen” t-shirt and plenty of applause down the parade route. “I’m just carrying on the tradition,” said Crawford, noting he inherited the role and simply wants to keep it rolling. “I’m just glad they have some type of band for the parade.”
The SPHS Music Boosters, the parent organization that provides volunteer and fundraising support for the SPHS Instrumental Music Program, is hosting a celebration of Mr. Crawford’s career & legacy on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at 2:00-4:00 pm on the Tiger Patio at SPHS. Former and current students, families, and members of the community are welcome and encouraged to attend the event to honor Mr. Crawford’s more than 30 years of service to SPHS and the broader South Pasadena community. Please contact sphsmusicboosters@gmail.com with questions and/or head to http://www.sphsmusicboosters.com/mrcrawford to leave a message for Mr. Crawford and/or let us know you are joining the celebration! You can also let us know to expect your attendance by following the QR code below.
