Cliff Chapman

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About our Conductor…

A native of Western New York, Cliff Chapman received the Performer’s Certificate in Percussion,
Bachelor of Music in Music Education, and Master of Music in Conducting at the State
University of New York at Fredonia and has done additional graduate study at Michigan State
University, East Lansing. Prior to his tenure at the Clarkston, Michigan Community Schools, Mr.
Chapman served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant with the SUNY Fredonia School of Music
faculty and was a member of the Music Department Faculty at Eastern Michigan University,
Ypsilanti, Michigan. During his 27 years with the Clarkston Community Schools, Mr. Chapman
served as the CHS Instrumental Music Director, Music Department Chair, District Music
Coordinator, K-12 Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator. Since leaving the Clarkston
Community Schools, Mr. Chapman has served the Department of Music and College of
Education at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan as visiting Director of Bands, Sabbatical
instructor of Instrumental Music Education, and recently retired as Student Teaching Clinical
Instructor and Instructional Assistant.

As an active member of professional organizations at the local, state, and national levels, he has
served as the Michigan State Chair of the National Band Association, Michigan State President,
and National Research Chair of the American School Band Directors Association and is Past
President of the Michigan School Competing Band Association, and Emeritus Member and Past
State President of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association. An Honorary Member
of the Kappa Kappa Psi National Band Fraternity, he also has been recognized as the
Outstanding Clarkston Educator, WDIV-Newsweek Detroit Outstanding Teacher Finalist,
Clarkston Community Schools Board of Education Teacher Recognition, Michigan Teacher of the
Year Finalist, Clarkston Foundation for Education Teacher of the Year Finalist, and twice elected
MSBOA District 4 Band Teacher of the year.

Currently, Cliff Chapman is the Music Director and Conductor of the Southeast Michigan Wind
Ensemble, whose membership by invitation and mission is to provide a performance outlet for
music educators and accomplished instrumentalists to promote, educate, and share wind and
percussion literature as a form of communication and community cultural enrichment. Mr.
Chapman continues to be active as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor in addition to
serving as a member of the National Board of Directors of the Association of Concert Bands.

Cliff and is wife and music partner in life, Kathy, currently reside in beautiful Clarkston,
Michigan enjoying family, travel, and continued musical engagement.