Laura Shea-Clark (Bb Cornet, Flugelhorn)
Laura grew up with a cornet in her hands, learning her skills through the Salvation Army Bands, Music Camps, and Festivals. Her teachers included Peggy Payton-Thomas, Stephen Squires, and Mark Ponzo. Born in Chicago, she played with the Chicago Youth Orchestra, Northbrook Symphony, Elmhurst Symphony, West Suburban Symphony, Salt Creek Sinfonietta, Northbrook Brass Quintet, and several other ensembles.
Laura played nine seasons with the six-time National Champion Illinois Brass Band, serving as principal solo cornet for three years. She then joined the Chicago Brass Band, which was the 2004 National Champion, representing North America in the World Brass Band Competition in Kerkrade, Netherlands. She also performed with the CBB Players, the brass band's award-winning 10-piece brass ensemble. In 2005 Laura won the North American Brass Band Association adult slow melody competition.
Laura moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in January 2006 and currently plays with San Francisco Brass Band, Cambrian Symphony, Palo Alto Philharmonic, Santa Cruz Ballet Orchestra, Lyric Theatre Orchestra, and San Francisco Wind Symphony, as well as freelances throughout the Bay Area.
Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Trumpet Performance and a Master of Arts in Library and Information Studies from Northern Illinois University and is Library Services Manager at Mountain View Public Library in Mountain View, California. She lives with her husband, Guy Clark, and their family of cats in Los Gatos, California. Laura is a founding member of the Athena Brass Band.
