Byron K. Valentine (Dayton, OH) is a native of South Carolina who studied Education and Design before relocating to Ohio to pursue performance and teaching opportunities. He currently resides in Dayton, Ohio, where he serves as the Lead Stretchwear Designer for Fred J. Miller, Inc. (FJM), a national supplier of marching band and colorguard uniforms and costumes.
With more than 30 years of experience in the musical pageantry arts, Valentine specializes in costume design, program design, and visual development for marching band and winter guard programs.
Throughout his career, Valentine has contributed to the design and choreography teams for numerous programs across the United States, including Centerville H.S., Bellbrook H.S., Miamisburg H.S., Fishers H.S., Flower Mound H.S., the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps, the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps, Carolina Crown, Allegoria Winter Guard, Homage Winter Guard, Artistry in Blue, Juxtaposition Winter Guard, and Lexis Winter Guard. He has also served as a guest clinician and performance coach for the United States Twirling Association, mentoring members of the U.S. National Team as they prepared for their Olympic performance in Paris, France.
Valentine currently serves as Artistic Director for Etude Winter Guard, as well as the Dobyns-Bennett High School and William Mason High School Winter Guard programs. He also spent several summers teaching in the FJM Summer Clinic Program, including five years as Colorguard Coordinator.
He previously served as Executive Director and Artistic Director of Zydeco Colorguard, a perennial WGI World Championships finalist, two-time medalist, and World Class Fan Favorite recipient. Valentine is an accomplished adjudicator, regularly serving on judging panels for fall and winter circuits across the country.
Outside of the pageantry arts, Valentine enjoys home renovation projects and spending time with fellow artists and friends.