During his musical career, Sam McClung has worn many hats: composer, arranger, orchestrator, music copyist, producer, contractor, performer, and music educator. For over twenty years he served on the arranging staff of The United States Navy Band in Washington, DC. During his tenure with that prestigious organization, Sam wrote music for all of the various component groups, encompassing every conceivable style.

Since leaving the Navy, Sam has worked as a freelance composer and arranger writing for promotional packages, jingles, film scores, record sweetening dates, theatrical incidental music, TV productions, musical theatre, and marching band shows. He has also been commissioned to write for the Airmen of Note, the Baltimore Symphony, and has had his music played by such diverse orchestras as the Dallas, Long Beach, and Milwaukee Symphonies, and the Baltimore Philharmonic. In addition he has written for school concert bands, orchestras, and jazz ensembles. Some of the well known vocalists with whom he has worked include Patti Austin, Melba Moore, Sally Kellerman, Roberta Flack, Gary Morris, Crystal Gale, Shirley Jones, Maxine Nightingale, and Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers. Sam has been a leader/performer in his own professional bands, playing for weddings, receptions, corporate events, and private parties. Naturally, he has arranged all of the music for these groups.

Sam’s latest endeavor is that of music educator. After spending five years as a high school band director in Prince Georges County, Maryland, he moved to Ocala, Florida where he is currently Director of Instrumental Music and Chairman of the Music Department at College of Central Florida. Since taking over the reins at CF his groups have won acclaim from the college administration and the community in general. More specifically, his jazz groups—the Patriot Blues (big band) and Combo—have been asked to open for Lee Greenwood and Burt Bacharach.

Sam holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from West Virginia State University and a Master of Music degree in composition from The Catholic University of America. He has studied with Manny Albam and the late Ray Wright at the Eastman School of Music’s Arranger’s Workshop/Institute, and has taken post graduate courses in school administration and supervision at Bowie State University. He has been nominated and selected to Who’s Who In Education by his students at College of Central Florida.

Contact me at mcclungs@cf.edu