Artistic Director Laureate, Co-Founder, Dr. Mark Walters
(1957 - 2023)
Dr. Walters co-founded the Southwest Civic Winds in 2012 and served as Artistic Director until 2019 when he suffered a stroke that kept him from his masterful directing talents. Southwest Civic Winds is moving forward with Dr. Walters' dream of providing a strong and dedicated adult concert band for musicians and audiences alike.
Mark A. Walters served as Director of Bands at Fort Lewis College from 1996 to 2019. In addition to the band, he taught applied woodwinds, music education, and music appreciation. Dr. Walters also performed regularly as part of the faculty chamber series and as a clarinetist with the San Juan Symphony.
A native of Arkansas, Dr. Walters earned BME and MM degrees from Henderson State University and University of Central Arkansas. As a high school instrumental music director, Dr. Walters received the Stanbury Award for outstanding young directors.
Dr. Walters received his DMA from Arizona State University in 1997. During his tenure at Arizona State, he was invited to participate as a member of the Preparing Future Faculty program sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trust. As a grant recipient, he was able to pursue additional graduate study with Frederick Fennell in Tokyo, Japan. Dr. Walters' dissertation research focused on analysis of the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams, and culminated with a recording and reediting of Toccata Marziale based upon a critical examination of metric displacement.
Dr. Walters was an active member of the Colorado Music Educators Association Board of Directors and was nominated President of CMEA to serve starting in 2020. Dr. Walters was in demand as a guest clinician and adjudicator for festival contests and conducted honor bands throughout the southwest region.