Artie Clifton

Artie Clifton is Professor Emeritus of Music at Jacksonville University in Jacksonville, FL. He completed a 44-year career in music education, including 32 years at Jacksonville University, where he taught courses in music education, clarinet performance, and conducted the wind ensemble and chamber winds.

He holds degrees from Stetson University and the University of Cincinnati and has done postgraduate study at New York University.

Mr. Clifton has taught band, chorus and orchestra in public schools in Orlando and Winter Park, FL. From 1979-81, he was Music Director and Conductor of the Ocala (FL) Festival Orchestra and Assistant Conductor of the Florida Youth Symphony Orchestra. From 1981-89, Mr. Clifton was Director of Instrumental Ensembles at Muhlenberg College in Allentown (PA) and was principal clarinetist of the Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra.

Mr. Clifton is a Buffet Group USA Performing Artist. As a clarinetist, he maintains an active performance schedule that includes recitals and chamber music. For 30 years he performed regularly with the Jacksonville Symphony, including clarinet and bass clarinet, and occasionally played soprano, alto and tenor saxophone with the symphony.

Mr. Clifton has served as conductor of the First Coast Wind Symphony (www.fcwinds.org) since he co- founded the organization in 1990 in Jacksonville, FL. Under his leadership, the ensemble has produced three CDs and a DVD and established a guest composer series, commissioning projects, and a concerto competition for high school and collegiate musicians.

In 2017, he led the group on a performance tour of Austria. In 2022, the group toured Switzerland, Germany, and France. In 2023, the ensemble performed at the Association of Concert Bands National Convention.