First Coast Wind Ensemble Conductors
Artie Clifton
Artie Clifton is associate professor of music at Jacksonville University, where he teaches courses in music education and performance and conducts the wind ensemble and chamber winds. He holds degrees from Stetson University and the University of Cincinnati, and has done post-graduate study at New York University and Brooklyn College. He has taught in public schools in Florida and Ohio.
Formerly, Mr. Clifton was Director of Instrumental Ensembles at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania where, in addition to collegiate groups, he conducted a professional concert series, “Music for Winds,” and professional theatre productions. He was also principal clarinetist of the Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra.
Mr. Clifton is a Buffet Crampon USA Performing Artist. As a clarinetist, he maintains an active performance schedule that includes recitals and chamber music, and he has been a member of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra since 1990.
Mr. Clifton has produced and directed the Jacksonville Private Schools Honor Band at JU since 1993. This annual young artist program supports music education by providing talented high school students an opportunity to study and perform quality music literature in a university setting.
Mr. Clifton serves as a guest conductor and adjudicator in music festivals, and is a member of several professional music organizations and honorary societies.
Don Reynolds
Mr. Don Reynolds served as a band Director for 35 years in Nassau County Florida and is currently employed as an adjunct professor of Brass Studies at Jacksonville University. As a teacher of private trumpet he has had students audition and placed in the Florida All-State Orchestra, Middle, and High School Bands His bands have performed in numerous venues throughout the United States including the Presidential Inaugural Festival held in honor of Presidents Clinton and G.W Bush, and the Gubernatorial Parades of Lawton Chiles and Jeb Bush.
Under his direction, the West Nassau High School Band has consistently been awarded the highest rating of Superior at district marching and concert evaluations and at State Concert MPA. The Florida Bandmasters Association has recognized his bands with the Otto Kraushaar Award, the Bob Lampi Award, and bestowed on him the Oliver Hobbs Award.
During his professional career, Mr. Reynolds has performed with the Jacksonville Symphony (1973-1977), Ringling Brothers Barnum and Baileys Circus, Holiday on Ice, and numerous off Broadway Productions in the North Florida Area. Mr. Reynolds serves as an active adjudicator for the Florida Bandmasters Association and has been a guest clinician for honor bands in the State of Florida. He is a member of ASBDA, FMEA, MENC, and has served on the Executive Board and Committees of the Florida Bandmasters Association.
Conductor Emeritus
Dale Blackwell
Dr. Dale Blackwell recently completed a distinguished career as Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Florida State College at Jacksonville, a position he has held since August of 1971. He previously served as Brass Instructor at Valdosta State College and held the position of Band Director at Kecoughtan High School and H. Wilson Thorpe Junior High School, both in Hampton, Virginia, and Cartaret County Schools in Beaufort, North Carolina, his home town.
A professional trumpet player from the age of 16, Dale has pertormed with the big bands of Ray McKinley, Buddy Morrow, Warren Covington, and the show bands of Henry Mancini, Della Reese, the Mills Brothers, Holiday On Ice, The O'Jays, Frankie Laine, Patti Page, Lou RawIs, Steve Lawrence, and many others.
While earning his B.S. and M.M. from East Carolina University and Ph.D. from The Florida State University, he was active in several fraternal organizations including Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Pi Kappa Lambda. His most recent professional affiliations include Past President of Florida College Music Educators Association, Current President of the International Association of Jazz Educators - Florida Unit, Florida Bandmasters Association, Music Educators National Conference - Student Chapter Advisor, College Band Directors National Association, International Trumpet Guild, American Federation of Musicians, Southern Accreditation of Schools Committee, and the Statewide College and University Course Numbering System Committee - 1978 to present.