LARRY KLABUNDE

Artistic Director/Conductor
Westerville Concert Band

Larry Klabunde graduated magna cum laude from the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music in 1979 and earned his Masters in Music Education with an emphasis in instrumental conducting from The Ohio State University in 1985. He studied conducting with H. Robert Reynolds, Elizabeth Green, Craig Kirchhoff, Stanley E. DeRusha, Timothy Swinehart, and Carl St. Clair.

Since 1980, he has conducted bands, choirs, orchestras, as well as having taught general music and AP music theory in various schools.

Since 1988, Larry has taught music in the Worthington Schools. He founded the Thomas Worthington High School Wind Ensemble to perform Class AA literature, and that ensemble earned consecutive OMEA District and State Superior ratings under his leadership. He conducted the TWHS Wind Ensemble at two OMEA State Conferences, and led the band to a Superior rating at the Grand National Adjudicators Invitational.

Larry is the proud father of Joshua, Jonathan, and Hannah.

PHILLIP LOUDEN

Assistant Director

Westerville Concert Band

Phil Louden is a member of the tuba section joining the band when he retired from Westerville City Schools in 2013 where he taught middle school and high school bands and was a music curriculum coordinator. During his education career, he taught middle school and high school bands in Westerville. Recognitions Include the “Columbus Symphony Educator of the Year Award”, “Westerville District GEM Award”, “Innovative Teaching Award” from the Ohio Department of Education, Westerville School Superintendents A+ Award, and a “Technology Across The Curriculum Award” from the Best Buy Corporation. Professional Contributions include presenter at the OMEA Professional Conference, Marching Band General Effect Caption Head, Capital University, Ohio State University, Otterbein University, and the University of Cincinnati and supervisor for student teachers and college participants.

He is a member of the Ohio Music Education Association, Phi Beta Mu, and the Ohio Valley Bandmasters Association.

RICK BROWN

Executive Director, Westerville Community Bands
Founder & Managing Director,  Westerville Jazz Orchestra

bio coming soon

DON NATHAN

Musical Director, Westerville Jazz Orchestra

Board Chair, Westerville Community Bands

Don Nathan served as Director of Bands at Worthington Kilbourne High School from 2006 to 2019, concluding a distinguished 31-year career with Worthington Schools where he worked with students at all levels. Under his leadership, the Worthington Kilbourne Wind Ensemble performed twice at Carnegie Hall and was featured at both the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) and the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) professional development events. He established a robust commissioning program that included works by renowned composers such as John Mackey and Roger Cichy.

In addition to his work as Director of Bands, Don maintained a thriving private clarinet studio and served as a woodwind specialist for the district’s middle and high schools. In recognition of his excellence in teaching, he received the 2008 Johnstone Woodwind Master Teacher Award as Ohio’s Woodwind Teacher of the Year.

An active performer, Don has held the principal clarinet chair with the Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra and has also performed with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. As a saxophonist, he performs regularly with the Westerville Jazz Orchestra and appears with various local big bands. He also serves as Orchestra Director at Grace Polaris Church.

Don holds both a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music degree from The Ohio State University. Since retiring from full-time teaching in 2020, he has studied clarinet repair and now operates Nathan Woodwind Services, where he works as a master repair technician specializing in clarinets.