Clark Gardner
Clark studied percussion with J.C. Combs at Wichita State University and has an extensive drum corps background, marching numerous seasons in several corps, including Black Gold, Sky Ryders and Star of Indiana, where he was the percussion section leader of the legendary 1993 percussion section capturing DCI’s High Percussion award. Clark was also an original performer and later a staff member of “Brass Theater”, which would later become “Blast”. Clark recorded as a soloist with the Canadian Brass on their CD “Brass on Broadway” and taught percussion at several premier programs in Texas including Klein High School (Winning the Lone Star Classic four times) in Houston and Stephen F. Austin High School in Sugar Land. Most recently, Clark taught at Pecos Barstow Toyah Independent School District, where the band advanced to the State Marching contest for the first time in 20 years, achieved Sweepstakes for the first time in 25 years, and placed 4th in the winds division at the 2015 WGI World Championships in Dayton, OH.
Clark played drumset in Los Angeles, where he shared the stage and/or recorded with the members of many popular bands, including Marilyn Manson, Chris Cornell, Linkin Park, Enrique Iglesias, Tonic, and The Fray. Clark also recorded with Grammy-winning producers who have produced NIN, Marilyn Manson, Guns and Roses, Our Lady Peace, Kelly Clarkson, King's X and Michelle Branch. Most recently, Clark was a member of the band, "Open Hand".
In 2012, Clark was Percussion Caption Head at the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps, a season which saw the corps placement jump from 17th place to 12th in one season, returning the Crossmen to DCI Finals for the first time since 2003. An active clinician in the USA and Europe, Clark endorses Pearl Drums/Adams Percussion, Pro-Mark Sticks and Mallets, Zildjian Cymbals, as well as Evans Drumheads.
Clark lives near Cotopaxi, Colorado with his dog, Zion where he serves as a board member of the Western Fremont Historical Society and enjoys fly fishing, camping, hiking and exploring OHV trails.