Conductors
Lois Hofmann, Conductor
Lois Hofmann has been a music educator in Virginia since 1983. She graduated magna cum laude from Shenandoah University with degrees in Music Education and Music Therapy. She has taught on the elementary and middle school levels, and she served as the band director at Frederick County Middle School for over 33 years. She retired from that position in November 2019. Her past work has included the roles of performer, arranger, guest conductor, and clinician.
Ms. Hofmann has always been actively involved in numerous musical endeavors. Throughout her public school training in New Jersey, she participated in all forms of instrumental and vocal music, earning placement into numerous All-County, All-District and All-State ensembles. She was a clarinet major at Shenandoah University, studying under Barbara Duman and Stephen Johnston. During her time at Shenandoah, she conducted the Concert Band and the Clarinet Choir. After college, she worked with autistic and deaf students at the Grafton School, while teaching part-time band instruction at two private schools. At this time, she also served as the choir director for Round Hill Church of the Brethren in Toms Brook, Virginia, where she continued to direct the choir for 16 years. Ms. Hofmann is also a very accomplished handbell ringer and was a founding member of the 6th Dimension Handbell Ensemble. This was an advanced group of musicians that have performed at First Night Winchester, the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, The Homestead and the prestigious National Handbell Director’s Seminar. Ms. Hofmann served as that group’s musical director for 35 years.
In addition to conducting the Community Band, Ms. Hofmann sings with Winchester Musica Viva and the Arts Chorale of Winchester. She teaches private music lessons to middle school and high school band students at the Treehouse Music and Arts Studio in Winchester, as well as giving lessons at home via Zoom. She and her friend Melinda Russell volunteer their time at a local nursing home several times each month, helping to bring music to the residents there through Hymn Sings and playing jazz standards as a clarinet and piano duo.
Brian Steffens, Assistant Conductor
Brian Steffens retired from the teaching profession in June 2015 after having served as a public school band director on the middle and high school levels for 32 years. Mr. Steffens taught on the faculties of J. Michael Lunsford Middle School (charter staff member, Chantilly, VA), Stone Hill Middle School (charter staff member; Ashburn, VA), River Bend Middle School (charter staff member, Sterling, VA), Farmwell Station Middle School (Ashburn, VA), Langley High School (Fairfax County Public Schools), Monroe-Woodbury Senior High School (Central Valley, NY), and Madrid-Waddington Senior High School (Madrid, NY). Under his direction, both the J. Michael Lunsford Middle School Lions Band and the River Bend Middle School Band 8 received the Blue Ribbon Award granted by the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) for schools whose music department ensembles earned Superior ratings at Virginia State Concert Band Performance Assessments. During his 13-year tenure as band director at Langley, Mr. Steffens directed nationally recognized award-winning ensembles. Mr. Steffens introduced into Langley's curriculum its first Percussion Ensemble and Steel Drum Band, fielded the first uniformed marching band, and performed for the Emperor of Japan’s visit to Great Falls. Mr. Steffens was named Langley's Teacher-of the-Year in 1996, was twice selected as a finalist for the Shenandoah University's Music Teacher-of-the-Year award (2007 and 2014) and was twice nominated as a Washington Post-Agnus Meyer Outstanding Teacher (1996 and 2010). Mr. Steffens earned his Master’s Degree in Music Education while studying at the School of Music at Ithaca College (Ithaca, NY) where he served as a graduate teaching assistant to Professors Rodney Winther (director of bands), Pamela Gearhart (director of orchestras), and Jack Covert (horn instructor). He also attended Rutgers College, Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ) and the Crane School of Music (State University of New York College at Potsdam, NY) where he was awarded his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education as a Magna cum laude graduate. Mr. Steffens retired as the assistant conductor in 2024.
Paul E. Shoremount
Paul E. Shoremount was the Conductor of the Clarke County Community Band from 2017 -2021. He was also an Adjunct Professor of Music Education at Shenandoah University. He served as the Band Director of Harmony Middle School in Loudoun County from 2002 - 2017, and the Band Director of Aylor Middle School in Frederick County from 1986-2002. He has a Masters Degree in Music Education from Shenandoah University and is a clinician and adjudicator for both Concert Bands and Jazz Ensembles. He currently performs with Jumptown, a Rhythm & Blues/Soul Band. In 2018, Paul was inducted into the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association Hall of Fame.
Paul D. Shoremount
Paul D. Shoremount was the conductor of The Clarke County Community Band for part ot 2017. Paul graduated from Shenandoah University with a Bachelors of Music in Music Education, majoring in classical saxophone and minoring in flute. He was the Band Director at James Wood Middle School. Previously, he was the Music Director at Sacred Hear Academy in Winchester, VA.
Doug Thompson
Doug Thompson is the arranger for The Clarke County Community Band. Doug studied music at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He teaches trombone at Ellsworth Music in Charlestown, WV. Click here to hear one of his arrangements.
Larry Correll
Larry Correll was the Conductor Emmeritis from 2017 to until his death in 2018. He served as Conductor of the Clarke County Community Band from 2011 to 2017. Larry taught music for 40 years in Virginia, Minnesota and Texas. He held a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and a Masters Degree in Music Education from Texas University in San Marcos, TX. He also had a Certificate in Church Music and a Masters Degree in Music from Shenandoah University.
Alec Bennington
Alec Bennington served as the Associate Conductor of the Clarke County Community Band in 2017. Alec holds a Bachelor of Music Education from West Texas A&M University and was also the Assistant Conductor for the Charles Washington Symphony.
Steve Stephens
Steve Stephens of Berryville served as the Associate Conductor from 1995 to 2009 and as the interim conductor in 2010. Steve is the former Drum Major of the United States Air Force Band. Steve was a member of the Air Force for 28 years.
John Ford
John Ford of Round Hill served as Conductor from 2000-2009. John is the retired director of the Eagle Ridge Middle School Band in Ashburn, VA and was involved in public music education for 38 years.
Clyde Croswell
Clyde Croswell of Berryville founded the Clarke County Community Band served as the Conductor from 1992 to 2000. Clyde is the former Director of Music for the Marine Corps in Quantico, VA.
