The Wheeling Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announced changes to its artistic team: the appointment of Antoine T. Clark to Associate Conductor and Shaun Hancher to Sinfonietta Conductor and Conducting Fellow.

Antoine T. Clark has been promoted to the position of Associate Conductor. Having served as WSO Assistant Conductor for the past two years, Mr. Clark is the founding Artistic and Music Director of the Worthington Chamber Orchestra in Ohio (formerly McConnell Arts Center Chamber Orchestra, established in 2013). A passionate advocate of arts education, in 2022, he served as Cincinnati Symphony’s MAC Music Innovator. The program, which highlights leading African American classical musicians who embody artistry, innovation, and commitment to education and community engagement, saw Clark leading chamber music and orchestral performances in schools and throughout the community during his residency.

This past summer, Clark guest conducted Kamratōn Ensemble in performances in Pittsburgh and Brooklyn and with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Fall 2023 highlights include engagements with the South Carolina Philharmonic, a two-city New York tour with Gateways Music Festival, Walla Walla Symphony, and leading Lima Symphony’s (Ohio) New Year’s Eve concert.

2022-2023 season highlights included a collaboration with Hixon Dance in a performance of Peter and the Wolf with the Worthington Chamber Orchestra and guest engagements with Dayton Philharmonic, Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, Spartanburg Philharmonic, Symphony Tacoma, Elgin Symphony, Orchestra, and New Jersey Symphony. Recent season engagements include Lancaster Festival Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Vermont Symphony Orchestra, and Opera Columbus.

Antoine T. Clark holds a Master of Music degree in orchestral conducting and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in clarinet performance from The Ohio State University, a Master of Music degree in clarinet performance from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. A winner in the 2017 International Conductor’s Workshop and Competition, he has participated in the Cabrillo Contemporary Festival of Music, the Monteux School and Music Festival, the International Conductors Guild Conference conducting masterclass, the New York Conducting Workshop, the Smoky Mountain International Conducting Institute, and as a Project Inclusion Conducting Freeman Fellow with the Chicago Sinfonietta. Among his mentors are conductors Neal Gittelman, Mei-Ann Chen, Michael Morgan, Markand Thakar, the late Michael Jinbo, and Marshall Haddock.

Conductor Shaun Hancher is completing his master’s degree in orchestral conducting under the tutelage of Dr. Mitchell Arnold and Dr. Rotem Weinberg at West Virginia University, where he served as the Graduate Assistant Conductor of the WVUSO. He was selected to participate in the 2023 College Orchestra Directors Association (CODA) National Conference Conducting Masterclass in Jacksonville, FL.

Active in the community music scene, Shaun serves as the music director of the Monongalia Symphony Orchestra and is the assistant conductor of the Morgantown Community Orchestra. Shaun recently started co-hosting a new podcast with choral conductor-teacher, Kole Butler. Young Conductors aims to inspire, educate, and encourage aspiring conductor-teachers. They are excited to continue making content for their eight-episode season.

Congratulations to both Antoine and Shaun!