Cramer Joins LTC as Director of Performing Arts

Lincoln Trail College has named Stewart Cramer its new director of performing arts, bringing an experienced educator, director and performer to a program with longstanding ties to the college and surrounding community.

Cramer comes to LTC with experience leading vocal music, musical theater and performing arts programs at community colleges. His background includes directing stage productions and ensembles, recruiting and mentoring students, developing community partnerships and managing performance programming.

“I’m really excited,” Cramer said. “I think this is an amazing opportunity.”

Cramer said the position appealed to him because it will allow him to focus on performances, productions and the overall development of LTC’s performing arts program. He will work with college students and community members while overseeing programming and theater operations.

“It’s a lot more focus on the performance aspect,” Cramer said. “I’m getting new experiences in administration, running the theater and getting more experience with the holistic side of being a theater director instead of just being the director of a show.”

Before joining LTC, Cramer served as head of vocal music and assistant professor at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa. There, he led vocal and performing arts programming, directed ensembles and musical theater productions and developed concerts and community outreach events. He also served as a stage director, music director and choreographer.

Cramer previously served as director of vocal activities and music instructor at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, Nebraska. He directed concert and show choirs, coordinated touring ensembles and developed recruitment and outreach initiatives. His work with the college’s high school music festival helped increase choir participation from approximately 30 students to more than 60.

That experience shaped Cramer’s approach to student recruitment. He said performing arts opportunities should be available to students from all areas of a college, including those who may not initially consider themselves performers.

“You find students who may think, ‘I might not ever do that,’ and then they find out they really like it and are good at it,” Cramer said.

Cramer said students also gain confidence, friendships and valuable life experiences by participating in choirs and theatrical productions.

“There are so many good things that come from being involved in the performing arts,” he said.

Cramer holds a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from Indiana University, a Master of Music in vocal performance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a Doctor of Arts in vocal performance from the University of Northern Colorado. Opera directing was his secondary doctoral area.

His performance experience includes opera, classical music, choral music and musical theater. He has performed with organizations including the San Diego Opera, Opera Colorado and Indianapolis Opera. His stage credits also include directing, music direction, choreography, production and theatrical makeup design.

Cramer began developing his directing skills while completing his master’s degree. He later expanded that experience at the University of Northern Colorado, where he taught voice and performance courses, assisted with opera productions and directed student performances.

“I love putting things together,” Cramer said. “I love creating music and shows that people want to come see, creating excitement around that and really giving back to a community through performance.”

As he begins his work at LTC, Cramer plans to learn more about the program’s history and build on its established theater tradition. He is also interested in strengthening collaboration between music and theater, increasing student and community participation and introducing audiences to a wider variety of performances.

Cramer said his early impressions of LTC have shown him how closely the college is connected to Robinson and Crawford County.

“We’re not just a college, and we’re not just a theater,” he said. “We are part of the community.”

He encourages students and community members who have considered participating in a choir, concert or stage production to explore the opportunities available at LTC.

“Even if you’re only kind of interested, it’s always great to put your feet in the water and do something that will widen your experience, give back to the community and help you meet new people,” Cramer said. “You should always try new things.”