Prior Conductors

Music Director of the Melbourne Municipal Band and Swingtime, Clair Christy, the holder of many music awards, conducts many concerts each year for the residents of Brevard County.

Professional training for Mr. Christy includes the normal college degrees from well-established artistic schools with well over 100 professional credits beyond the Masters degree from 7 colleges and/or professional institutions. Mr. Christy has also studied privately with many famous professional musicians.

Professional skills for Mr. Christy include auditioning for and being accepted as a trumpet player in The United States Army Band which is located in Washington, DC. Part of Mr. Christy’s duties included the playing of taps at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia. More personal skills include playing the trumpet in many professional orchestras around the country, including many years of playing trumpet in the Space Coast Pops Orchestra. Personal conducting skills include All-County workshops and guest conductor for The American Bandmasters Association. Of course, on the local level, Mr. Christy has conducted both Swingtime and The Melbourne Municipal Band for nearly 20 years. He is also responsible for the founding of the Melbourne Community Orchestra about 15 years ago.

Clair and Nancy Christy are the proud parents of three talented musicians who now play in symphony orchestras around the country. Son, Jay, plays in the Atlanta Symphony, daughter, Jan, in the Charleston Symphony, and daughter, Judy, in the Naples Philharmonic. As you can see, quality music is a very high priority for the whole Christy family.