Chalmers Dancy Clifton (April 30, 1889, Jackson, Mississippi – June 19, 1966, New York City)[1] was an American conductor and composer. Born in Jackson, Mississippi, he wrote a number of orchestral works, and some chamber music as well. He served on the jury deciding the Pulitzer Prize in Music for a number of years. He was a founder and first musical director of the American Orchestral Society and during the 1920s, he helped young musicians in New York prepare for being in orchestras across the country.[2]