D. Vincent Clayton is retired after 34 years of teaching, the last 21 at Ridge View High School in Columbia, South Carolina. He received both a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Music Education degrees from the University of South Carolina.
Under his direction, the Ridge View band 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 received numerous Superior Ratings at state and national events. They performed at the Bands of America National Concert Festival, four times 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 Grand National Adjudicators Invitational. His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education; the National Band Association; the South Carolina Band Directors Association; Phi Beta Mu; Pi Kappa Lambda; and he is a Past Chapter 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 five different occasions, the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s “Legion of Honor”, Phi Beta Mu’s “Outstanding Bandmaster Award”, and in 2016, Mr. Clayton was inducted in both the South Carolina Band Directors Association and the Phi Beta Mu’s “Hall of Fame”.