Biography: R. Craig Chotard died on October 30, 2024. He was born on August 17, 1942, in Lake Village, Arkansas, to Robert C. and Anne D. Chotard. He is survived by his brother, Henry Chotard, his niece Jennifer Chotard Spears and her wife Lisa, and cousins Richard and Bennett Chotard.
 
Craig received his Bachelor of Music degree at Henderson State University in 1964, his Master of Music degree from the University of Colorado in 1971, and attended the Royal School of Church Music at Addington Palace, Croydon, England, in 1982. Craig served as organist/choirmaster at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Little Rock, from 1965 to 1970. In 1971 he began a 41 year career as organist/choirmaster at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, also in Little Rock.
 
When Craig started his tenure at St. Mark’s there were approximately 12 people in the choir.  He initiated a children’s choir in the late 1970’s and trained the children not only in hymn and anthem singing, but also in liturgy and the history of liturgy in the Anglican tradition, and in the seasons of the church year.  In the early 1970’s Craig arranged for the St. Mark’s choir to become affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music in England. When he retired there were 42 singers on the choir roster and in the 1990’s and early 2000’s the choir numbers were in the 50’s. During his tenure he was instrumental in the design and installation of the Austin pipe organ in the sanctuary, and the design of the choir room in the “new” parish office building. The choir room was named for him at his retirement, and he was named Organist/Choirmaster Emeritus, in recognition of his many years of faithful service to St. Mark’s and the larger diocesan community.
 
One of the highlights of Craig’s tenure was the Fourth Sunday at Four series, which was a full choral Evensong followed by short musical programs by various choral and instrumental artists and, on occasion, by the choir. People from as far away as Benton, Jacksonville and Pine Bluff were regular attenders for these programs. Craig was also instrumental in having the Arkansas Chamber Singers and Chamber Music Society use our church and parish hall for their concert seasons. The choir also made “road trips” to Lake Village, Pine Bluff, West Memphis and Stuttgart to present Evensong. Craig was an integral part of the Diocesan committee on Music and Liturgy, and was instrumental in planning many diocesan convention worship services, and diocesan services such as the consecrations of bishops and ordination of clergy. He was responsible for inviting several nationally known organists to perform in recital after the pipe organ was installed, raising the exposure of St. Mark’s as a venue for notable organ performance.
 
Craig served three terms as the Dean of the Central Arkansas chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and was appointed to serve on the Choirmaster/Clergy Relations committee of the national AGO. He also served as Convention Chairman for two Regional Conventions of the AGO held in Little Rock in 1985 and 1997. He was also a founder and active member of the Association of Anglican Musicians.
 
Funeral services will be at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, November 6. In lieu of flowers Craig requested memorial be made to St. Mark’s, 1000 N. Mississippi, Little Rock, AR 72207.