Clark Chaffee

Inspiration through music

Award-winning conductor, educator, and performer Clark Chaffee has built a thriving career of more than 40 years on collaborative music, whether he’s making it, directing it, or teaching it. An effective and beloved director of musical ensembles and music education programs, Clark’s leadership with performance groups ranging from beginners through professionals has been nationally recognized.

His professional performances as timpanist, drummer across multiple musical styles, orchestral percussionist, and jazz, pop, and classical vocalist have taken him from schools all the way to Carnegie Hall, Orchestra Hall and Ravinia in Chicago, and many venues across Europe. He also has extensive amateur experience across numerous genres and instruments, including upright bass, cello, classical guitar, viola, and violin.

Clark developed the Chaffee Core Musicianship Curriculum, a highly effective, flexible, and efficient music curriculum designed to dramatically expedite students’ knowledge and skill development. CCMC is a flexible curriculum compatible with most standard methods for any ensemble or music studio.

Full Biography

Respected Leader

Effective leadership and development of ensembles including chamber, string & full symphonic orchestras, pit orchestras (musicals, operas, ballet), youth orchestras, percussion ensembles, jazz combos, big bands, concert & pops bands.
Mentor and leader for ensembles of beginners, intermediate players, advanced teens, mixed ages, and both amateur and professional adult musicians.
Award-Winning Educator

Over 40 years of teaching music in a variety of instrumental settings, working with young beginners through adults.
Focused on achieving excellence through development of the knowledge and skill of each performer.
Recognized nationally for his school orchestra programs, faculty team effectiveness, leadership, and community service. Developer of Chaffee Core Musicianship, a multi-instrumental curriculum designed to support mastery of clefs, rhythm, and key shapes.

Chaffee Core Musicianship
Passionate Performing Artist

Significant professional experience as a timpanist, a drummer in every musical style, an orchestral percussionist, and as a jazz, pop, and classical vocalist.
Extensive amateur experience in a variety of ensemble types and musical styles, including bass, cello, classical guitar, viola, and violin.