Trombonist Gary Clarke teaches elementary music at Fort Gay, West Virginia.  Previously, he was an itinerant elementary music teacher in Wayne County, West Virginia, serving students at Lavalette, Dunlow, Crum and Fort Gay.  Prior to this Clarke was band director at Wayne High School.  Clarke began his work in Wayne County in 1994 at Vinson High School teaching choir, piano, guitar, and elementary music at Prichard Elementary.  In addition to his work in Wayne County, Clarke served as Conductor of The Brass Band of the Tri-State in Ashland, Kentucky from 1995 to 1997.  Clarke returned as conductor of the Brass Band of the Tri-State in January 2005.  He also served as conductor of the Greater Huntington Symphonic Band through the 2003-2005 seasons.

Clarke has held a variety of positions in music education.  He served as director of the Marshall University Music Preparatory Department. He also taught as a private music instructor working with students from West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.  From 1978 to 1981, he established and directed the music program of Mid-America Christian School including instrumental, vocal and elementary music.  He also established and directed the instrumental music program at Harts High School in Lincoln County, West Virginia, from1976 to 1978.  Clarke’s first full-time teaching position as band director was at Williamsburg, Ohio, from 1970 to 1973.  During the school year of 1969 and 1970 he was assistant band director of the Mariemont City Schools near Cincinnati, Ohio.

In addition to his music education experience, Clarke served as Pastor of Second Guyandotte Baptist Church in Huntington and Grace Fellowship in South Point, Ohio.  Prior to this he was choir director for Souls for Christ Baptist Church in Huntington and Union Misssionary Baptist Church in Chesapeake, Ohio and First Guyandotte Baptist Church in Huntington, West Virginia.  He was the general manager of Eastern Heights Shopping Center from 1981 to 1988 and from 1973 to 1975, Clarke sold life and health insurance for the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States and Pan American Life Insurance Company.

Clarke is a graduate of Marshall University with a Master of Arts in Music Education (1994) and the Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Music in Performance (1969).

A native of Floyd County, Kentucky, he and his wife now reside at South Point, Ohio.  They have two children, Chris and Jennifer, and six grandchildren, Taylor, Erin, Justin, Karley, Benjamin, and Anna Kate.