Arthur J. Holton, III, is the retired Director of Bands for San Joaquin Delta College. He also conducts the Stockton Concert Band and serves as an adjunct professor providing clarinet instruction at the college. Mr. Holton is in demand as a guest conductor of Honor Bands throughout Northern California, as well as a sought-after clinician and adjudicator.
He received his B.A. degree from San Jose State University and M.A. in Clarinet Performance from California State University, Chico. Prior to joining the Delta College faculty, Mr. Holton was the Director of Bands at Lincoln High School in Stockton for 21 years, and has more than 40 years of experience as a music educator.
Mr. Holton also enjoys a successful career as a clarinetist with chamber and symphony orchestras and ensembles, as well as wind bands. In addition to serving as Principal Clarinetist with the Stockton Symphony for 18 years, he has served as a guest soloist with that group on several occasions.
As a conductor, Mr. Holton has helmed musical ensembles ranging from concert, jazz, and brass bands to choral ensembles with which he has toured Europe, Australia, and New Zealand seven times. The high school concert, jazz, and marching bands he directed amassed over 1,000 awards, including more than 40 Command Performance ratings in concert and jazz festivals. The Lincoln High School Band performed under his direction in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade on three occasions.
Mr. Holton has served as the President of the San Joaquin County Music Educators Association, Northern California Band Association, and California Band Directors Association, in addition to holding many other state and local offices. He is listed in Who’s Who Among American Music Teachers and received the John Philip Sousa Foundation Legion of Honor Award at the Midwestern Band Clinic in Chicago.
Mr. Holton’s wife, Kathy, also a retired music educator, plays clarinet in the Band.