When it comes to USI’s Madrigal Feaste, it might be more efficient to ask, “What doesn’t Daniel Craig do?” As the director of the Chamber Choir, this associate professor of music is naturally heavily involved in the process. Craig’s responsibilities include: writing the script, choosing the music and conducting it, coordinating the food service and other tasks.

Although his time at USI will officially end on Jan. 1, 2027, the 54th Annual Madrigal Feaste will be his last.

“I will miss it, but I also have other things in the works that I want to do with what time I have left, and this is a huge undertaking,” said Craig.

Once his retirement begins, Craig looks forward to spending more time with his family. 

“Now I have a beautiful granddaughter,” said Craig. “I’m going to spend a lot of time with her. I want to be a full-time granddaddy.”

He also intends to spend more time on his interests. Craig enjoys nature, wildlife and event photography. He is a choir director at a church and a composer. Craig has composed music for the Madrigal Feaste and wrote USI’s Alma Mater, “Constant, Faithful and True.”

“USI’s Madrigal Feaste is the oldest tradition on campus, and there is no better way in the tri-state to begin your holiday season than to come to this,” said Craig.

“We all wrestle with getting our house decorated, finding all the gifts, ordering food and/or getting ready, cleaning the house, all of the things that just completely stress people out,” said Craig. “People tell me that they come to Madrigal Feaste, here in the early part of December, because it serves for them as a marker in time that says the season can now begin, and it allows them to celebrate stress-free.”

Craig also reflected on last year’s Madrigal Feaste, during which he had to take on a slightly different role. “I had an accident last year, just before Madrigal Feaste, and was laid up in the hospital for quite some time, and [I] could not direct the feast that I planned,” said Craig. “We had other people do it.”

Thus, for a variety of reasons, this year’s feaste will be meaningful for him. “It’s quite poignant that this is my last one, and I will enjoy it while we’re doing it and miss it when I’m gone.”

As part of this year’s feaste, an alumni choir will be joining USI’s Chamber Choir. 

“It’ll be good to see so many alumni who are coming on each night,” said Craig. “The alumni attendance was something that I felt very strongly about.”

According to Craig, several of the songs were specifically requested by the alumni for them to sing, such as Franz Biebel’s version of “Ave Maria.”

The songs in the Madrigal Feaste are either, as Craig put it, “sacred” or “secular.” The secular songs will be madrigals, while the sacred songs are meant to introduce the coming season.

To bring the Madrigal Feaste to life, music is something that Craig focuses on.

 “I know that the jesters are going to get them laughing, that Chef G and his team are going to wow them with food,” said Craig. “Then my sole purpose is to welcome people into an event where they didn’t have to cook. They didn’t have to decorate. They can eat really fine food, laugh themselves silly, hear incredible music and have a sense of fellowship that is truly lacking outside the doors of our hall.”

As for this year’s cast, “We have really good folks this year who [are] covering the parts and I’m looking forward to it,” said Craig.

Craig added, “Everybody brings a different take on their character, and it’s always refreshing to see how they’re going to play the role.”