Board of Directors

TERM 2021-2024

TERM 2022-2025

TERM 2023-2026

Cliff Chapman
Mark Clark
Ned Snow

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.

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

Mark Clark
Silverthorne, CO
e-mail
2023-2026

Mark Clark is a talented musician and educator with over 44 years of experience, both as an accomplished classroom teacher at the Elementary, Middle and High School levels and also as an administrator, including positions as Principal, District Curriculum Specialist and New Teacher Coordinator. Having flunked retirement, he currently serves as the middle school strings teacher on a half-time basis. Mark earned undergraduate degrees in Music Performance and Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado and graduate degrees in Curriculum Development and K-12 School Administration. Mark and his wife Donna, also a musician, perform in multiple area ensembles. Being outdoors, caring for their animals, and attending and performing in concerts rounds out their lives. If selected for the ACB  leadership team, Mark looks forward to being a partner in building on ACB’s 45-year history of advocating for concert bands.

Mr. Paul M. Furlong, a Western New York native, holds BFA and MFA degrees in Music Education from SUNY at Buffalo. Paul is a retired music educator from Eden Central Schools, having served as department chair  and director of the Junior High Band and High School Wind Ensemble. He maintains an active schedule as a performer of double reeds, particularly bassoon and contrabassoon, and low clarinets. He is on the board of several community ensembles. He is the current president of the Buffalo Niagara Concert Band (BNCB) and the Erie County Wind Ensemble (ECWE), holding tenure with BNCB as winner of the 2019 Sudler Silver Scroll Award. Additionally, he serves as personnel manager for BNCB and the Cheektowaga and Orchard Park Symphonies.

He has served as guest conductor of the Post 264 American Legion Band, Hamburg Village Band, the Amherst Chamber Ensembles, and as an All-County director in Niagara County. In 2017 he was appointed as Associate Conductor with BNCB. Mr. Furlong is principal bassoonist of the Buffalo Niagara Concert Band (BNCB), Cheektowaga Community Symphony Orchestra, Orchard Park Symphony, and Erie County Wind Ensemble. As a bassoonist, he is a founding member of the Metropolitan Woodwind Quintet, the "Reed My Lips" Double Reed Ensemble, BSNQ (a bassoon quartet/quintet). As a free-lance bassoonist and contrabassoonist he has performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic and Erie Philharmonic (PA) orchestras. He also founded Clarinets Unleashed!, a clarinet ensemble, where he plays contrabass clarinet. He was principal bassoonist with the American Legion Band of the Tonawanda's Post 264 for 41 years.

He has been bassoon soloist with BNCB, the American Legion Band, the Cheektowaga Community Symphony, the Erie County Wind Ensemble, Hamburg Village Band, and Orchard Park Symphony in addition to contrabassoon soloist with the Hamburg Village Band and Buffalo Niagara Band. He has performed professionally on bassoon and contrabassoon with the Erie (PA) Philharmonic and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestras. In November 2013, he performed the premiere of his own wind band arrangement of the first movement of Stephen Frost’s Bassoon Concerto with the Buffalo Niagara Concert Band and performed it again at the Association of Concert Bands National Convention in Allentown, PA in March 2014.

Professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education and New York State School Music Association (NAfME/NYSSMA), the American Federation of Musicians, and the International Double Reed Society. He is also a NYSSMA certified All-State Woodwind Adjudicator.

Annette Kline is a native of Grosse Ile, Michigan where she was first influenced by music as a young dancer at the age of three. By 12 years old, she found her true passion for creating music and knew she wanted to have a career in music education.

Annette received her Bachelor’s degree in Instrumental Music Education from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, where she studied clarinet with Douglas Cornelson. She was also a member of the 70th Division Army Reserve Band where she played clarinet, saxophone, and became assistant band director from 1985-1991. Annette went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Instrumental Conducting under the instruction of Dr. David Daniels, and in 1991, she was honored with Oakland University’s Distinguished Musicianship Award. While studying for her master’s degree, and as a member of the Conductor’s Guild, she had many opportunities to work with well-known conductors in the United States and abroad. Annette has conducted talented ensembles, including the Detroit Chamber Winds, Pontiac Oakland Symphony, 70th Division Army Reserve Band, Allen Park Symphony, Oakland University Wind Ensemble, Warren Concert Band, and the Warren Symphony Orchestra.

Annette began her teaching career as the Middle School Band Director for Brandon Community Schools in Ortonville, Michigan, from 1984-1993. In 1994, she started teaching at Lake Orion Community Schools in Lake Orion, Michigan, where she held various music teaching positions including, K-5 General Music, 5-6 Beginning Band, 6-12 Orchestra, Assistant HS Band, Marching Band, and most recently, Band Director at Waldon Middle School. As an active member of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, Annette’s ensembles continually received division I ratings at festivals throughout her career.

Currently, Annette is the Conductor and Music Director of the North Oakland Concert Band (NOCB), a position she has held since 1988. The ensemble has expanded from the original 15 members to more than 80 musicians today. The NOCB has received excellent reviews from guest conductors and clinicians and is regarded as one of the premier community ensembles in Michigan. Annette brings a warm style and strong artistic talent to the NOCB that adult musicians desire.

After 35 years of teaching music in public schools, Annette made the decision to retire in 2020. She is excited to continue directing the North Oakland Concert Band and looks forward to bringing her audiences exciting and innovative new programs. In her new found retirement, Annette performs regularly throughout the Detroit Metropolitan area, plays bass clarinet with the Southeastern Michigan Wind Ensemble, substitute teaches band and orchestra, and can still be found competing as a ballroom dancer with Lorretta’s Dance Studio in Keego Harbor, MI and dancing wherever opportunity strikes. Annette is thrilled to work with the ACB board of directors and share her love of music.

Larry H. Lang is the new Executive Director of the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra. He has a distinguished career as a music executive, military commander, conductor, producer, and educator. During his 29-year military career, Colonel Lang led five Air Force bands, culminating as Commander and Conductor of the United States Air Force's premier musical organization in Washington, DC, from 2012 to 2019. He has led events for five U.S. Presidents, numerous foreign dignitaries, Congressional leaders, senior Department of Defense officials, and served as a key advisor to Air Force senior leaders on the use of music to demonstrate excellence and build positive community and diplomatic relations around he globe.

Originally from El Paso, Texas, Lang is a graduate of New Mexico State University, where he received degrees in Music Performance (Trombone) and Music Education in 1980. He received his Master's degree in Music Education from the University of New Hampshire in 1982 and joined the faculty there the same year. He went on to serve as the Assistant Director of Bands at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA from 1983 to 1989. Lang was commissioned as an officer and bandleader in the U.S. Air Force in 1990 and served across the globe, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan to support U.S. and allied troops and develop positive international relationships.

Lang has produced and performed in multiple Emmy and Telly Award-winning productions for NBC, PBS, and many other broadcast organizations. Known for his innovation, he created numerous online music videos, including the Air Force Band's popular holiday "flashmobs" that became viral sensations and reached over 75 million viewers worldwide. He has also been the Executive Producer for over 50 recordings in almost every music genre, released on several major labels and widely distributed on commercial streaming services.

In 2005, he was honored with membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association, the professional association of master conductors and composers; considered the highest honor achievable by an American bandsman. His musical leadership has been recognized three times by The John Philip Sousa Foundation with a Colonel George S. Howard Citation Award for Musical Excellence, the highest international award for military concert bands and conductors. He is in high demand as a conductor-clinician, conducting music ensembles around the globe, and has been a clinician for the New England Conservatory of Music Conductor's Forum, Shenandoah Conservatory Instrumental Conducting Symposium, and the National Band Association Young Conductors and Composers Mentor Project. 

In 2007, Lang was presented the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, given to a select group of individuals whose accomplishments in their field and inspired service to our nation are cause for celebration. The Medal has been officially recognized by both Houses of Congress as one of our nation’s most prestigious awards and is annually memorialized in the Congressional Record. In 2008, he was presented the Distinguished Alumni
Award by New Mexico State University and inducted into the Faculty Hall of Fame at McNeese State University.

Lang joins the ASO after a highly successful tenure as Executive Director of the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra in Flagstaff, AZ.

Jeff Marlow, 2013 past president ABA, is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University (87, BA Music Education) where he studied under Hal Cooper and Ken Futterer. At University of Kansas (94, Masters Music Education) he studied Conducting with Robert Foster. Before retiring in 2017, Jeff was director of bands at Dover; Pocola, OK; Mountain Pine; Ozark; and County Line and also taught music at University of the Ozarks, Westark Community College, and University of Central Arkansas.

Jeff’s Dover bands received ASBOA Sweepstakes awards 16 of the 21 years he directed there, and the band performed at the 2004 ASBDA National Convention. Jeff currently teaches privately and directs the Arkansas River Valley Community Band in Fort Smith. He also enjoys relaxing on his farm with his wife Greta, and they have two grown children, Roger and Lily.

Tom Seaton 
Roseville, CA
e-mail
2022-2025

Tom Seaton has been the music director of the Rancho Cordova River City Concert Band since 2003. He is a 1990 graduate of California State University Northridge. As a performance major, he studied clarinet with Dr. Charles Bay and performed under the batons of Dr. David Whitwell and Mr. Gary Pratt.

Mr. Seaton earned his Master of Science in Arts and Letters Degree in 1998 through the American Band College at Southern Oregon University. Through ABC, Mr. Seaton has had the opportunity to play under the batons of Dr. Frederick Fennell, Dr. Alfred Reed, Elliot Del Borgo, Frank Erickson, Robert W. Smith, Col. Arnald Gabriel, Dr. Peter Loel Boonshaft, Col John R. Bourgeois (former US Marine Band conductor) and other European composers such as Johan de Meij, Jan van der Roost and Australian Composer Ralph Hultgren. He has also had the opportunity to work with Michael Levine and the Dallas Brass for the Nutcracker Project in 1999. Tom was co-chairman of the committee for the Rancho Cordova River City Concert Band in hosting the 37 th Annual Association of Concert Bands convention held in Rancho Cordova and in May of 2018, Tom was a clinician at the 40th anniversary convention for the Association of Concert Bands teaching on small ensembles. Most recently Tom has been a member of the ACB Convention Committee, helping design, create and launch the ACB Connects! Live Zoom presentations. Mr. Seaton has been a music educator since 1990 and is currently teaching 7-12th grade music at Creative Connections Arts Academy in North Highlands, CA.

Ned Snow followed in his dad’s footsteps and took up the trumpet in 7th grade. Ned was the leader of his high school Pep Band in Pasadena, California. He loves to tell this story about music making a difference in people’s lives:

When Ron Howard came to our school with his basketball team, I arranged with my bandmates to play the theme from The Andy Griffith Show, on which he played Opie when he was a small child. Years later, I heard an interview on Bob Costas's radio program during which Costas asked Ron if it was tough having a normal life while being famous at such a young age. Ron replied, "Well, there was this one time when my high school basketball team went on the road..."

A great opportunity for a Pasadena kid during Ned’s junior and senior years in high school was to play with the Pasadena City College Marching Band in the Tournament of Roses Parade. What a thrill to march and play those 5 1/2 miles in front of a million people and a worldwide television audience!

Like many others, Ned had periods in his life when he didn’t play. And like those others, he found that a community band was a great way to return to playing. This experience feeds his passion for supporting community bands.

Ned currently plays with two ACB-member bands based in Santa Fe: Santa Fe Concert Band and High Desert Winds. He has served on the Advisory Board of High Desert Winds for four years. He will begin a two-year term as president in the Fall of 2023.

While working on his MBA, Ned pursued a 38-year career in Silicon Valley tech companies, as well as a two-year excursion into the world of entrepreneurship, founding a chocolate business in the San Juan Islands in Washington State. Now retired, he was a key member of the leadership team that successfully hosted the 2022 ACB Music for Life National Convention in Santa Fe. Through his financial leadership, each of the three host bands enjoyed a surplus of $18,700.

Ned is excited to bring his business perspective to the ACB Board to help achieve its goals. He explains his desire to contribute this way:

My attention to detail, tenacity, and desire to collaborate enable me to find the best solution to solve a problem or improve an established process.