Faculty

Craig Adams Selected to Lead New Center for Commercial Music at Trevecca

Trevecca Nazarene University has announced the appointment of Craig Adams as executive director of the school’s newly established Center for Commercial Music. 

Adams, a respected music industry professional and the son of songwriter/performer Stephen Adams, is a five-time Gospel Music Association Dove Award winner. He comes to Trevecca from LifeWay, where he created or collaborated on more than 3,000 Christian music products and worship resources from 2007-2021.

“We are truly fortunate and grateful for Craig Adams to join us in this new endeavor,” Trevecca President Dr. Dan Boone said. “Craig is an excellent communicator, problem solver and people manager. He is adept and gifted at overseeing, providing discipline and equipping creatives to achieve missional objectives.”

A Trevecca alumnus, Adams has served as a performer, arranger, songwriter, producer and worship leader.

The Center for Commercial Music at Trevecca has been established as a performance and opportunity hub where students can learn, work and serve in the music/entertainment industry while completing a degree.

“We believe the new Center for Commercial Music will strengthen the classroom/educational experience for students,” said Provost Dr. Tom Middendorf. 

The core mission of the Center for Commercial Music is to bolster, diversify and unify the training infrastructure by infusing the curriculum with leading voices and influencers from the industry, according to Trevecca VP of Program Development for Music and Worship Dr. Vernon Whaley.

“This is a step toward joining together music, worship, athletics, business and ministry initiatives with one unified Kingdom focus,” Whaley said.

As executive director, Adams will be a primary liaison among professionals in the music industry, the Nazarene denomination, the church at large and the various programs on the TNU campus that include music presentation and production.

“I am excited to be part of this new, innovative initiative. I believe the Center gives Trevecca an opportunity to fill a ministry/worship resource void in the marketplace as never before.”

The Center for Commercial Music at Trevecca is a division of the School of Music and Worship Arts led by Dr. David Diehl, the School’s dean.

Trevecca Nazarene University is a Christian university in the heart of Nashville focused on preparing students for lives of leadership and service.  Founded in 1901, Trevecca is committed to holistic education that encourages students to grow intellectually, socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually.  In addition to its historic main campus near downtown Nashville, Trevecca offers two other locations across Tennessee, and online classes worldwide. Trevecca has been recognized as a national university by the U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 Best Colleges; as a doctoral university by the Carnegie Foundation; and as the #2 school in Tennessee for bachelor’s degree graduate salaries by GradReports.

With students from 47 states and 39 countries, Trevecca offers 20 associate degrees, 81 undergraduate majors, 25 master’s programs, and three doctoral programs as well as specialist and certificate programs.


Media Contact: Brian Bennett, bwbennett2@trevecca.edu