Ohio Northern University’s Wind Orchestra has a new director, Dr. Antoine Clark, who has taken the place of Dr. Thomas Hunt who retired at the end of the Spring 2018 semester.
Dr. Clark has an outstanding history in the musical field. He earned his Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. He holds a Master of Music degree in clarinet performance from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music. Dr. Clark later earned the Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting and the Doctor of Musical Arts in Clarinet performance at The Ohio State University.
Dr. Clark was aware of ONU’s reputation for education and the Music Department wonderful work of preparing students for musical careers.
“For many years, I have been aware of Ohio Northern University’s fine reputation as an educational institution and the wonderful work that the Music Department has been doing in preparing students for careers in music. The faculty in the Music Department are well known throughout the state, region, and nation for their expertise. Therefore, I am thrilled to take on the position as the new director of the wind orchestra while working alongside talented students and faculty,” Dr. Clark said
Along with focusing on teaching, Dr. Clark has become a sought-after clarinetist. He has performed with the Dearborn Symphony in Detroit, Michigan as principal clarinetist. Dr. Clark has also performed with the Charlottesville Opera as well as the Sphinx Symphony, the Harlem Symphony, the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, and the Soulful Symphony.
Dr. Clark’s interest in music started at a young age.
“I grew up in a musical family. My father was a church musician and served as a Music Director for many churches throughout central Virginia.
I fell in love with music at a very young age, and I decided early on that I wanted to be a performer and a music educator. I have a strong desire to use music as a way to communicate with people from all backgrounds and a love for educating young musicians.”
Dr. Antoine Clark
The students are looking forward to having Dr. Clark as their instructor.
“He has high expectations, but he shows that he has them because he believes in us and it’s in a very positive way,” says Mackalyn Figgins, a Junior trombone player in Wind Orchestra.
Dr. Clark’s plans for the wind orchestra in the future include continuing the excellence that the Wind Orchestra has been able to demonstrate under its previous director, Dr. Thomas Hunt.
He hopes to provide a positive and stimulating atmosphere where students can hone their music skills. The ensemble will continue to perform music from a wide range of styles while covering music from the Classical era to present day.