Long Branch High School

Mr. Clark currently teaches at Long Branch High School where he serves as Director of Bands and Head Teacher of Visual and Performing Arts.  He has been a proud member of the LBHS staff since May of 1988.  Long Branch High School bands under his tutelage have won a USSBA Marching Band Championship; recieved the prestigious CADETS AWARD OF EXCELLENCE from the World Champion Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps; been named Champions of the Yamaha Cup Invitational @ Giants Stadium; been named Champions of the Yamaha Cup at MetLife Stadium,  gained recognition as one of the top performing arts programs from an urban school district in the State of NJ by the Education Law Center almost annually with different ensembles (LBHS Symphonic Band, Soundwave Jazz Band, SPLASH-Indoor Marching Band, and lb.(pound)-percussion ensemble); performed numerous times at Yankee Stadium; and played in 2 Yankee Ticker-Tape Parades; and received recognition from State and County Teen Arts Festivals for superior small ensembles (Percussion Ensemble, Flute Quartet, Clarinet Ensemble, Brass Choir, Sax Quartet) and Jazz Band.  The Long Branch High School Pit Band was named Best Student/Adult Pit Orchestra for A Chorus Line in 2015 and Peter Pan in 2016 and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in 2018.  These LBHS groups have also participated in many community service activities including performances for the U.S. Marines, U.S. Army, New Jersey Jewish War Veteran’s, VFW Post #2140, BPOE Elks #742, the City of Long Branch, the Monmouth/Ocean County Special Olympics, and many other community based organizations. In 2021, Monmouth County declared "Long Branch High School Band Day" and in 2022 the NJ State Senate recognized every individual member of the group for their community service and read a Proclamation on the NJ Statehouse floor extolling the superior citizenship of the band members. The groups have also represented Long Branch in Toronto, Cleveland, Washington D.C., and Central Pennsylvania among other locales.

For his efforts Mr. Clark has received the following honors: Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders by having a "Bob Clark Day"; the City of Long Branch by declaring a "Robert Clark Day"; The VFW #2140 as Man of the Year; The VFW #2140 as Teacher of the Year; The All Shore Band Director's Association Band Director of the Year; and the Monmouth Arts Council Leader in Arts Education award.  Mr. Clark was featured on NJTV in a segment of NJEA's Classroom Closeup and on PBS's "One on One With Steve Adubato".  He is also included in the web series "Steve Adubato's Lessons on Leadership".  Mr. Clark has been a quarter finalist for the Grammy Awards Music Educator of the Year twice.  

Mr. Clark attended Jersey City State College where he received his B.A. in Music Education.  In the greater musical community, Mr. Clark is a member of the National Association for Music Education, New Jersey Music Educator's Association, Central Jersey Music Educator's Association and the All Shore Band Director’s Association.  He has served four terms as president of the All Shore Band Directors Association.  Mr. Clark is also a member of the ASBDA Hall of Fame Committee.  Mr. Clark has served as Artistic Director of “KIDS IN CONCERT”, a celebration of performing arts in NJ's Urban Public Schools that is run by NJEA and the Education Law Center for 8 years.  He served as an adjudicator for Music Showcase Festivals for many years, judging school music acts from around the nation.  Mr. Clark is also a proud member of the National Education Association and the New Jersey Education Association.   He is also a well-traveled musician, performing percussively in many genres and he has served as a sound technician to many NJ bands.  Mr. Clark currently serves as percussionist with the Toms River Municipal Band.