Master Sergeant Clay M. Sattazahn is the director and NCOIC of High Altitude, the popular music ensemble of the Air National Guard Band of the Northeast, Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, PA. In addition to his leadership responsibilities, Sergeant Sattazahn plays trombone with both the concert band and was formerly the NCOIC of the brass quintet. Originally from Cleona, PA, and a 1983 graduate of Cedar Crest High School, he now resides in Red Lion, PA with his wife and two children. Sergeant Sattazahn's career in the Air Force began in 2007 with his assignment to the 553rd Air Force Band.
Sergeant Sattazahn attended Lebanon Valley College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education in 1987. While attending college, he studied trombone with Mr. James Erdman. He has also attended West Chester University, earning credits towards a Master's Degree in Music Education, and has taken courses offered through Wilkes University.
After leaving college, Sergeant Sattazahn was employed as the band director at Red Lion Area Senior High School from 1987-1995. From 1995 through 2002, he was enlisted in the United States Navy as a trombone instrumentalist, performing with the Seventh Fleet Band (Yokosuka, Japan); Navy Band Northeast (Rhode Island); and was assigned to the Armed Forces School of Music (Norfolk, VA) as the Naval Military Training Instructor. Since 2002, he has been employed as a music teacher for the Hanover Public School District in Hanover, PA, where he teaches instrumental music in both the middle and high school.
Throughout his professional career as a freelance artist, Sergeant Sattazahn has performed with numerous artists throughout the East Coast as a trombonist in big bands, concert bands, symphony orchestras, musical theater, small ensembles, Latin groups, and rhythm & blues and rock bands, as a soloist, and has recorded radio and TV commercials in Baltimore. He has backed such artists as: The Temptations, Henry Mancini, The New Four Preps, The O'Jays, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra with Buddy Morrow, John Pizzarelli, Tommy Newsom, Bob Mintzer, Dave Stahl, Harold Danko, Eric Miyashiro, Tyrell Stafford, and Chris Vadala, Jerry Presley and the Jordanaires, among others. His performance credits also include the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, and Shimoda Jazz Festival in Japan, and combined concerts with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. He also performs with the Buzz Jones Big Band, has performed with the Lancaster British Brass Band, and has recorded with the Majestic Jazz Orchestra, is the trombonist for the Black Rose Brass Quintet, and performs regularly at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theater in Lancaster, PA.
Sergeant Sattazahn's military awards and decorations include the National Defense Service Medal (2), Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon (2), Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal (4), and the Navy Good Conduct Medal (2), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal (2), Air Force Achievement Medal, MajGen Thomas R. White Jr. Medal, Thomas D. Stewart Medal.