John Clanton, renowned conductor, music director, and pianist, will conduct the North Greenville University Concert Band in a free concert on Oct. 8, 7 p.m. at NGU.
Clanton will conduct the Concert Band on Monday, Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. in Turner Chapel. The concert is free and open to the public.
Clanton’s professional music career began at Furman University where he earned a B.A. in music. He later earned an M.A. in conducting from the prestigious Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y.
Clanton was taught at Spring Valley High School by NGU’s Dean of the Graduate School of Education Dr. Marianne Holland.
“(Clanton) was the drum major for the marching band at Spring Valley,” said Holland. “He also played the saxophone and participated in All State Chorus.”
He was also a Lt, Colonel in the U.S. Army where he served for nearly 30 years as the music director for no less than five military ensembles, including the Armed Forces Chorus, U.S. Army Chorus, U.S. Army Orchestra, “Pershing’s Own” U.S. Army Band, and Soldiers’ Chorus of the U.S. Army Field Band.
While on campus, Clanton will be working with students in Dr. Darian Washington’s concert band.
“This will be a great opportunity for students to meet someone Carolina born-and-raised who rose to the top of the music field,” said Washington. “His resume speaks for itself.”
Clanton conducted the Armed Forces Chorus and Marine Orchestra at the funerals of Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford. Most notably, Clanton was the music director for Queen Elizabeth II’s 2007 visit to the White House.
Clanton has directed many independent ensembles, such as the London Symphony, Ravinia Festival Orchestra Pops, San Francisco Symphony Pops, and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. He is a freelance musician who has offered master classes at several universities including Shenandoah Conservatory.