Meet Our Conductor

Mr. Clark Chaffee

Our music director and principal conductor is Mr. Clark Chaffee. With extensive experience as a performer, conductor, and music educator, Mr. Chaffee brings a unique blend of perspectives to the podium. He is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy and has earned Music Education degrees from the University of Michigan and Northern Illinois University (NIU). A two-time Nationally Certified Educator (MENC and NBPTS), he has held adjunct faculty positions at Elgin and McHenry Colleges, National Guitar Teachers Workshops, the Illinois Summer Youth Music program, and the Music Institute of Chicago.  He is the former Vice President in charge of the Orchestra Division for the Illinois Music Educators Association. NIU named him the 2014 Distinguished Alum from the College of Visual and Performing Arts. The Illinois Chapter of the American String Teachers Association named him the 2011 Classroom Teacher of the Year. He, his ensembles and the Stevenson High School music professional learning community team have been recognized by numerous organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts, the US Department of Education, the Kennedy Center, the Grammy Foundation and the Conductors Guild.

Now retired from his career building school orchestra and guitar programs, he remains active as a clinician and conductor. Mr. Chaffee has extensive experience conducting concert repertoire, and has directed opera and musical theater productions with a wide variety of ensembles and age levels.

His professional performing experience includes being a member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus, timpanist for the Chicago Civic Orchestra, Elgin Symphony, Rockford Symphony and others; drummer for the University of Michigan Big Band; drummer/vocalist for jazz bands and his own jazz quartet. In amateur settings, Mr. Chaffee’s experience includes many concerts and recitals playing bass, cell, viola, and classical guitar.

Since moving to the Phoenix area in 2013, Mr. Chaffee has been an active teacher, performer and clinician. In addition to his role as music director and conductor of the West Valley Wind Ensemble, he performs the same roles with the Surprise Pops Band. Clark is currently the drummer and vocalist for the Sun City Stomperz (traditional jazz), leader, drummer and vocalist for Swing Time (featuring standards from the Great American Songbook), bassist and vocalist for Olde Folk (traditional American folk music), principal bassist in Pro Musica Arizona (oratorio), bassist in the Scottsdale Philharmonic, and the orchestra coach for the Deer Valley School District's four high schools. He served as principal violist for the Sun City Chamber Orchestra. Clark is an ongoing clinician for ABODA (Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association) festivals.