Lt. Colonel John Clanton

Director, The U.S. Army Strings

A native of South Carolina, Lt. Colonel John Clanton received his undergraduate music degree from Furman University and his Master of Music degree in Conducting from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with Donald Hunsberger and conducted the Eastman Wind Ensemble.

He conducts regularly at the White House and at state functions honoring visiting heads of state and the nation’s most senior political and military leaders. Lt. Col. Clanton organized and conducted the Armed Forces Chorus which performed at the offiical state funeral ceremonies at Washington National Cathedral for former Presidents Ronald Reagan in 2004 and Gerald R. Ford in 2007.

Lt. Col. Clanton performed and recorded for four seasons with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus under Maestro Robert Shaw. He attended the Tanglewood Music Festival, Robert Shaw Choral Institute, and was selected to participate in the 2005 and 2006 National Conductors Institute at the Kennedy Center where he studied with Maestro Leonard Slatkin and the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO). He gave his debut with the NSO in May 2006 as part of the institute, and conducted his own summer concert with the esteemed organization in July of that year. A longtime advocate of the art of conducting, he currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Conductors Guild.

From 2001-2005 Lt. Col. Clanton was with The U.S. Army Field Band, where he served as Deputy Commander and Principal Conductor of the Soldiers’ Chorus, and participated in 12 national concert tours to 46 states. Also, he created and conducted the Armed Forces Chorus—comprised of most military singers in the DC area—which performed for President Reagan’s Memorial Service at the National Cathedral.

Prior to his time with The U.S. Army Field Band, he served The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” as Principal Director of The U.S. Army Chorus and The U.S. Army Chorale from 1995-1997 and 1998-2001. Also during that time, he conducted The U.S. Army Concert Band, Ceremonial Band, Herald Trumpets, and Orchestra. Previous assignments include Administrative Officer for the Headquarters, 8th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Bad Kreuznach, Germany; Commander and Conductor of the 8th Infantry Division Band; Staff Band Officer, 6th U.S. Army, Presidio of San Francisco, California; and Staff Band Officer, Forces Command Headquarters and Commander and Conductor, Army Ground Forces Band, Fort McPherson, Georgia.

His ensembles have been featured at most major music conventions, music festivals—to include Blossom, Ravinia, Chautauqua, and Interlochen­­—and on numerous radio and television broadcasts. He has performed with Erich Kunzel and Marvin Hamlisch and conducted in most of the nation’s finest concert halls, including the Kennedy Center, Boston Symphony Hall, and Carnegie Hall. During joint performances with his military choruses, he has guest conducted the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, National Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Grant Park Symphony, Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Ravinia Festival Orchestra, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra.

His military decorations include seven awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, three awards of the Army Commendation Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal.

Updated Thursday, May 27, 2010 2:15 PM | Lt. Colonel John Clanton