Dr. Clifford M. “Ski” Winter received his MA and EdD from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. Upon graduation from the University, he received the M. Ray Loree Award for Outstanding Dissertation Research, which is awarded by the Graduate School.
Ski taught high school band at Daleville HS from 1973-1976, and moved on to teach at Huffman HS from 1976-1988. During the Huffman years, the bands received 15 years of superior ratings. He received the Stanbury Outstanding Young Band Director Award for the Southeast while teaching at Huffman. He also served as ABA President during this time helping effect positive changes within the organization. Many of his band students later became successful band directors in their own right: Theo Vernon, Kim Bayne, Dale Hovey, Robert W. Smith – to name a few.
After 15 years of teaching in secondary education, he became the Director of Bands at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. During his tenure at UAB, he developed and directed the first UAB Marching Band, initiated the UAB Summer Community Band and created the UAB Honor Bands.
In 1998 he returned to secondary education as the director of the Vestavia High School band where he remained until his retirement in 2006. While at Vestavia, the band received outstanding acclaim and superior ratings at all festivals and contests. They made trips to New York, Hawaii, Chicago, and San Antonio, to name a few of their destinations.
Dr. Winter remains active as a mentor for young band directors, adjudicator and clinician. He is also an active Secretary Treasury of Rho Chapter.
Dr. Winter was inducted into to the 2022 Alabama Music Educators National Conference “Hall of Fame” for band directors.
