Board of Directors

TERM 2024-2027

TERM 2025-2028

TERM 2026-2029

Cliff Chapman
Tedd Gullickson
Robert Pouliot

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.

Tedd Gullickson
Burnsville, MN
e-mail
2026-2029

Tedd Gullickson is conductor and artistic director of Valley Winds based in Apple Valley (MN). He is director and drummer with Southern Minnesota’s Real Big Band and a member of the Sudler Silver Scroll award winning Medalist Concert Band. Gullickson served as Director of Bands at Mankato West (MN) High School for 26 years where his bands appeared at three state conventions and annually earned unanimous superior ratings. His parade band won two state championships. Tedd has served as Vice-President of the Minnesota Music Educators Association, President of the South-Central Minnesota Band Directors Association and music representative for the Minnesota State High School League. Awards received include State Music Teacher of the Year, Governor’s Award for excellence in Teaching and the Mankato Healthy Youth Award. Gullickson earned a BA from Concordia College (Moorhead) and an MA from the University of Minnesota, both degrees in music education.

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 "lashmobs" 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.

Robert Pouliot
Alexandria, VA
e-mail
term

Robert Pouliot is Music Director Emeritus of The City of Fairfax Band Association and served as Conductor of the City of Fairfax Band (CFB) for 30 years, transforming it into a nationally recognized organization with two concert bands, chamber ensembles, and a youth division. Under his leadership, CFB earned the Sudler Silver Scroll, commissioned six original works, recorded five CDs, and performed at major national conventions, including hosting the 2002 ACB Convention. He also led the band in commemorations of the 73rd D-Day anniversary in France. A former Air Force Band Officer, he served as Executive Officer and Associate Conductor of The United States Air Force Band. His honors include the National Band Association Citation of Excellence, ACB Outstanding Conductor Award, and Fairfax’s John Mason Arts Achievement Award. A past ACB Board member, his focus for board service is to help member bands—both emerging and established—build sustainable structures and deepen their impact in their communities.

Tom Seaton 
Roseville, CA
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.

Gary Smith received his B.A. degree from Butler University and his M.A. degree from Ball State University. He started his career as Director of Bands at Northside High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1964–68. Following, he became the Director of Bands at Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana, from 1968–72. Next, Gary served as Assistant Director of Bands and Marching Band Director in 1972–76 at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. From 1976 to 1998 and again in 2004, Gary was the Associate Director of Bands at the University of Illinois in Urbana -Champaign, where he conducted the nationally renowned Marching Illini, Basketball Band, and  Symphonic Band II. He also taught marching band procedures, and band arranging in the School of Music.

In 1988 Gary was elected to be a member of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and served as the president in 2018. He is a member of Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha, and Kappa Kappa Psi music honorary fraternities, and participates in the College Band Director’s National Association, National Band Association, and the Florida Music Educators Association. Presently, he serves as the associate producer of the annual Disney Thanksgiving Parade of Bands held at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. Since 1987 he has served as the coordinator of the band festivities for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. In addition, he serves as the conductor of the Bonita Springs Concert Band in Bonita Springs, FL. His self-published textbook, The System–Marching Band Methods, is used in many university marching band classes.