Claiborne T. Richardson

Claiborne T. Richardson II is a graduate of West Virginia University’s School of Music (B.M.Ed.), and The College of William and Mary’s Marshall-Wythe School of Law (J.D.). He is a former high school- and middle school-music educator who has also served as a guest conductor and clinician for high school and college instrumental ensembles in Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.

Clai currently holds the drum set chair for the Reunion Music Society Jazz Orchestra and the Chris Johnston Trio. He is the principal timpanist, principal percussionist, and section leader with the NOVA Symphony Orchestra. He is a member of the board, past president, and current president of The Reunion Music Society, Inc. (a music non-profit based in northern Virginia), and plays trumpet and percussion for the Annandale Brass Ensemble. He has played drum set with numerous musicians including Wes Biles, Joe Kennedy Jr., Charlie Byrd, Lew Soloff, and the Leonard Hannigan Big Band. Clai also played trumpet with the WVU Alumni Wind Ensemble on their last three European tours.

Clai is a Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney in Fairfax County, Va. Prior to joining that office he was Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Prince William County, Va. During his 30+ year tenure as a prosecutor, he has handled more than 200 jury trials and successfully argued before the Virginia Supreme Court. Additionally, he has served on the faculties of the American Prosecutor’s Research Institute, the National District Attorney’s Association, the Virginia Local Government Attorney’s Association, and the Virginia Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Services Council.