About the Blazer Band

DIRECTORS

D. Vincent Clayton | Director of Bands D. Vincent Clayton has been Director of Bands at Ridge View High School since the school opened in 1995. He received both the Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music Education degrees from the University of South Carolina and has taught in South Carolina for twenty-four years. Under his direction, the Ridge View band program has quadrupled in size and has received numerous Superior Ratings and awards in marching and concert events. The Blazer Marching Band is a consistent finalist at the South Carolina State Championships and at several Bands of America Regional competitions. The Ridge View Symphonic Band has received numerous Superior Ratings at state and national events. They have performed at the Grand National Adjudicators Invitational, twice at the South Carolina Music Educators State Convention, twice at the University of South Carolina Band Clinic, the University of Southern Mississippi Band Clinic, and at the Bands of America National Concert Festival. His professional affiliations include the Music Educators National Conference; the South Carolina Music Educators Association; a past board member of the South Carolina Band Directors Association; Phi Beta Mu; Pi Kappa Lambda; and is a past president of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He is also a charter member and Past President of the Palmetto Concert Band. Mr. Clayton has received the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence on four different occasions, and has been awarded the Legion of Honor from the John Philip Sousa Foundation. Mr. Clayton and his wife Leslie have two children, Grant and Kelsey.

Ken Turner | Assistant Director Ken Turner is the Director of Bands at Kelly Mill Middle School, and Assistant Director of the Ridge View Blazer Band. The Kelly Mill Band Program enjoyed a very successful beginning with over 200 students in 2004-05, and with the 7th/8th grade Honor Band receiving a Superior Rating at both the SCBDA State Concert Festival and the Carowinds Music Festival. He is formerly the Director of Bands at Irmo High School, Chapin High School, Irmo Middle School, and W.A. Perry Middle School. His bands have earned three SCBDA 5A State Marching Band Championships, a Bands of America Regional Championship, as well as consistent Superior ratings in concert performances. Under his co-direction, the Irmo Middle School Honor Band performed at the prestigious Mid-West Band Clinic in Chicago in 1998. Mr. Turner has received the National Band Association's Citation of Excellence on four occasions, and the NBA Certificate of Merit for Marching Excellence twice. Mr. Turner received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education with a Performance Certificate from the University of South Carolina in 1992 and his Master of Music Education degree from USC in 2000. While an undergraduate at USC, he was the principle horn of the USC Symphony Orchestra and the USC Symphonic Band, and was the winner of the USC Concerto-Aria competition. Currently, he is a member of the SC Philharmonic, the Palmetto Brass Quintet, and the Palmetto Concert Band. Mr. Turner resides in Lexington, SC, and is married to Lorrie Turner, Band Director at Crossroads Middle School in Irmo. They have one daughter, Carol Anne.

Leah Corde | Assistant Director Leah Cordé is a native of York, SC and a graduate of York Comprehensive High School. Mrs. Cordé attended the University of South Carolina and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1998 with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education. Her saxophone teachers include Dr. Cliff Leaman and Mr. Doug Graham. Mrs. Cordé began her teaching career in Spartanburg School District 7. There, she taught band at Carver Junior High School, five elementary schools, and served as the Colorguard Instructor at Spartanburg High School. From the fall of 2000 to the spring of 2006, Mrs. Cordé was the Associate Director of Bands at Sumter High School. During her tenure there, all three concert bands and the marching band consistently received Excellent and Superior ratings at SCBDA events. Bands under her direction have performed at the South Carolina Music Educators Association Convention as well as the Grand National Adjudicators Invitational. Mrs. Cordé is currently the Associate Director of Bands at Kelly Mill Middle School. Mrs. Cordé is a member of the National Band Association, the International Association for Jazz Education, the Music Educators National Conference, the South Carolina Music Educators Association, the South Carolina Band Directors Association and Pi Kappa Lambda. As a saxophonist, Mrs. Cordé is an active member of the Palmetto Concert Band. She, her husband Chris and their daughter Hannah, live in Columbia, SC.