JOHN CLANTON enjoys a multi-faceted career as a conductor, pianist, and music director. During his decade-long association with SSMT, SU, and Tom Albert, he has led performances of Little Shop of Horrors, Ragtime, Sweeney Todd, West Side Story, Oklahoma, Ilyria, City of Angels, and She Loves Me. He was a Staff Accompanist for the Dance Department, and, as a sabbatical replacement, conducted the Shenandoah Chorus and taught Musical Theatre Accompanying. Additional musical theatre productions include Chicago, Newsies, Spamalot, Show Boat, Singin’ in the Rain, Seussical, Kiss Me, Kate, Grand Night for Singing, and, most recently, returned to Spamalot as Vocal Director with the City Springs Theatre Company in Atlanta, GA. He has conducted concerts with the orchestras of Phoenix, Annapolis, Georgetown, Tuscaloosa, Lima, Cincinnati, Ravinia Festival, Grant Park, Naples, DeKalb, and London while collaborating with Stephen Schwartz, Erich Kunzel, Marvin Hamlisch, Scott Coulter, Jessica Hendy, Kelli Rabke, Blaine Krauss, and the rock band Kansas. Leonard Slatkin twice selected him for the Kennedy Center’s National Conducting Institute which led to 5 seasons as his cover conductor and his own concert with the National Symphony Orchestra. He has twice conducted the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and sang 4 seasons with Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus. He holds degrees from Furman University (Music), Eastman School of Music
(Conducting), and Shenandoah Conservatory (Musical Theatre). A retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, John served with musical organizations in the US and Germany, culminating as the Deputy Commander of The US Army Field Band and The US Army Band (Pershing’s Own) where he led the US Army Orchestra and Chorus. He conducted performances in 49 states and 13 foreign countries; for 5 Presidents and 17 foreign Heads of State; and at the Kennedy Center, Avery Fisher Hall, and Carnegie Hall. His most memorable include conducting for the National Cathedral Memorial Service for the State Funerals of Presidents Reagan and Ford and for the
White House State Dinner honoring Queen Elizabeth II. (johnclanton.com)