Choice Music Events’ board of directors is proud to announce Dick Clardy as the organization’s new Executive Director. Jon Locke, former acting Executive Director of Choice Music Events stated, “Mr. Clardy’s career as a music educator has been exemplary and the music community will certainly benefit from his service at Choice Music Events.” There were 119 different expressions of interest in the position and the applicants were a very diverse group possessing an extremely high level of quality. “As we went through the process, it was exciting to know that one of these fine educators would be leading this organization as it becomes more involved with music programs across the country,” stated Jon Locke.

Dick Clardy will be leaving his position as the Director of Bands and the Department Chair of Fine Arts at Klein High School in Klein, Texas. Mr. Clardy is a native Texan, having begun his musical career under the direction of J. R. McEntyre in the Permian High School Band and Orchestra. Mr. Clardy received a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from West Texas State University, a Master of Music Degree in Applied Trumpet from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and has done Doctoral work at The University of North Texas.

Mr. Clardy performed as principal trumpet with the United States Army Field Band in Washington, D.C. in 1972, and in 1976 was selected to perform on a national tour with The United States Armed Forces Bicentennial Band along with musicians from all Washington, D.C. Bands.

In 1977, Mr. Clardy began his teaching career in his hometown of Odessa, Texas, with Bill Dean at Odessa High School. In 1978, Mr. Clardy was invited to serve on the trumpet faculty at The University of North Texas for a one-year appointment as a colleague, and finally, a student of Professor John J. Haynie. Mr. Clardy taught at Strickland Junior High School in Denton, Marcus High School in Flower Mound, and started the band program at Griffin Middle School in 1982.

Prior to his appointment to Klein High School, Mr. Clardy spent fifteen years developing the band and orchestra program at The Colony High School in The Colony, Texas. Bands under Mr. Clardy’s direction have performed at The Midwest Clinic in 1994, at the TMEA Convention-Clinic as the TMEA Class 5A Honor Band in 1997, at the Tournament of Roses Parade in 1997, at The Midwest Clinic in 1998, at the American Bandmasters Association Convention in 2000, and at Carnegie Hall in 2001. The John Philip Sousa Foundation honored The Colony Band with The Sudler Flag of Honor in 1994. Bands under Mr. Clardy’s direction have been named Best In Class at every major Concert Band Festival in the country and have been consistent participants in the Texas State UIL Marching Contest since 1988 and a top 5 finish in the TMEA Honor Band process since 1986. The Klein Wind Symphony performed in Symphony Hall in Chicago in 2004 and competed in the 2004 Texas State UIL Marching Contest. The Klein Wind Symphony recently performed at Carnegie Hall in the spring of 2006.

Mr. Clardy is an active performing musician, clinician and adjudicator. He was named Teacher of the Year in 1988-1989 and also honored by the Parent Teacher Association as a Lifetime Member. Mr. Clardy served as the President of the Texas Music Educators Association and on the TMEA Executive Board as the State Band Division Chair in 1998-2000 and as the TMEA State Audition Chair from 1993 to 1997. Mr. Clardy is an elected member of the American Bandmasters Association and Phi Beta Mu and currently serves on the ABA/Ostwald Band Composition Adjudication Committee. Mr. Clardy received the Meritorious Service Award from the Texas Bandmasters Association in 2005.