Dr. Scooter Ward

Founder and Director of Cloud 9 Orchestra

Dr. H. L. “Scooter” Ward, Jr., was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida.  He earned his B.A. in Theology from Southeastern Bible College in Birmingham, Alabama, and received his commission as an officer in the United States Air Force where he served on active duty for nearly ten years as an air battle manager on the E-3 Sentry (AWACS).   A decorated combat veteran, Scooter also received an M.A. in Christian Studies and an M.Div. from Luther Rice Seminary in Lithonia, Georgia. He received a Doctor of Worship Studies degree from the School of Music at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

After joining the military, he stopped singing for a good while, except for in the shower.  However, he did continue playing piano from time to time in the privacy of his home (having studied for eight years from middle school into college). Back in 2008, while deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Scooter formed a small band to entertain the troops over the holidays as well as worked with the chaplains to provide music for the base chapel services as a worship leader.   He got back into the musical scene once again and vowed to make his hobby a lifelong pursuit.

One of the highlights of his musical accomplishments was working with Denver and the Mile High Orchestra, a modern-day big band out of Nashville, TN.  DMHO was featured on Fox’s Next Great American Band back in 2007 who went all the way to the show’s finale taking third place overall.   Scooter was asked to sing background vocals with them at two of their local concerts in the panhandle in 2009.  Being a fan of big band music, he has always dreamed of singing with his very own band one day.  That experience caused him to reflect and inspired him to pursue his dream to grow old singing and playing in or with a big band.  He formed the Cloud 9 Orchestra in May 2010, and the band premiered at the Martin Theatre on December 18, 2010 to a crowd of more than 250 people. Through his efforts with the Cloud 9 Orchestra, he hopes to inspire future musicians and ones who have left the instruments collecting dust in the closet while sharing his faith in Christ through music.

Dr. Ward currently serves as associate pastor and music minister to Community Church of Santa Rosa Beach located in northwest Florida. He also serves as the president of the South Walton Ministry Association, a Kingdom-oriented, Christian cooperative of participating churches and parachurch organizations.  Dr. Ward also serves as Vice President on the all volunteer, Gulf Cemetery Board, which manages the administration of Historic Gulf Cemetery in Santa Rosa Beach, FL.

Dr. Ward and his wife, Amy, have been married for seventeen years and currently reside in Freeport, Florida. They both enjoy spending time with family, playing card games, swimming, and walking.  He also leads two ukulele orchestras weekly at his church, and they perform monthly as an outreach ministry to two local assisted living/memory care facilities.

As of October 2020, the Cloud 9 Orchestra has performed thirty-three concerts:

12.18.2010…”A Cloud 9 Christmas” at the Martin Theatre (Panama City, FL)

07.02.2011…”Let Freedom Swing” featuring Cloud 9 Orchestra (Panama City, FL)

07.03.2011…Patriotic Service for Northside Baptist Church (Panama City, FL)

11.19.2011…Winshape Marriage Retreat (Rome, GA)

12.10.2011…Cloud 9 Christmas at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame #1 (Birmingham, AL)

12.11.2011…Cloud 9 Christmas at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame #2 (Birmingham, AL)

12.22.2011…”Jingle Bell Swing” Benefit Concert for Noah’s Ark Ministry (Panama City Beach, FL)

02.14.2012…“Valentines on Cloud 9” at Bay Banquet Hall (Panama City, FL)

03.03.2012…Children’s Volunteer Health Network Benefit Concert (Alys Beach, FL)

04.20.2012…Relay for Life Benefit Concert at Tommy Oliver Stadium (Panama City, FL)

05.10.2012…Fred Astaire Birthday Party at Fred Astaire Dance Studio (Panama City, FL)

05.19.2012…Studio 415 Grand Opening Ball (Panama City, FL)

07.01.2012…”Let Freedom Swing” featuring Cloud 9 Orchestra (Panama City, FL)

08.18.2012…”High Five for Mike” Benefit Concert (Birmingham, AL)

12.22.2012…”Jingle Bells Swing” at Northside Baptist Church (Panama City, FL)

01.24.2013…SEBC Presidential Council Dinner at Vestavia Country Club (Vestavia Hills, AL)

05.25.2013…“Birmingham Freedom Festival” at Crestwood Festival Center (Irondale, AL)

06.08.2013…“HealthFirst CPR Day” at Space Coast Stadium (Melbourne, FL)

06.28.2013…“National Anthem” at Regions Field (Birmingham, AL)

06.30.2013…”Let Freedom Swing” featuring Cloud 9 Orchestra (Birmingham, AL)

11.11.2013…“Liberty Fest” at Liberty Community Church (Odenville, AL)

12.16.2013…“Let Heaven and Nature Swing” at Parker Memorial Baptist Church in (Anniston, AL)

01.23.2014…SEBC Presidential Council Dinner at Vestavia Country Club (Vestavia Hills, AL) 05.31.2014…“HealthFirst CPR Day” at Space Coast Stadium (Melbourne, FL)

06.29.2014…”Let Freedom Swing” featuring Cloud 9 Orchestra (Birmingham, AL)

09.27.2014…Winshape Marriage Retreat (Rome, GA)

11.10.2014…National Veterans Day Ball (Birmingham, AL)

02.12.2015…SEBC Presidential Council Dinner at Vestavia Country Club (Vestavia Hills, AL)

06.28.2015…5th Annual “Let Freedom Swing” featuring Cloud 9 Orchestra (Birmingham, AL)

03.31.2016… SEBC Presidential Council Dinner at Vestavia Country Club (Vestavia Hills, AL)

06.26.2016…6th Annual “Let Freedom Swing” featuring Cloud 9 Orchestra (Birmingham, AL)

05.29.2017…Memorial Day Ceremony at Historic Gulf Cemetery (Santa Rosa Beach, FL)

12.24.2018…Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Community Church (Santa Rosa Beach, FL)

05.27.2019…Memorial Day Ceremony at Historic Gulf Cemetery (Santa Rosa Beach, FL)

11.08.2020…Sunday Worship Celebration at Community Church (Santa Rosa Beach, FL)

11.10.2020…Veteran Day Celebration at New Life Church (Miramar Beach, FL)

 

2 thoughts on “Dr. Scooter Ward

  1. As you know, Kevin is my son.

    After seeing Pam’s facebook about this Louise and I decided we would love to be entertained and put on Cloud 9 at your performance especially since Pam might be singing. I am sorry we have not met before but the last 10 months have been touch and go for me. I thank all of those who had me in their prayers for He does work miracles–doctors said that I was dying. Well, I am still here with His help and this will be my second trip away from home since getting out of the hospital.

    I do have a qustion for you–does the Martin and the Comfort Suites have wheelchair accessibility?

    Thanks for letting me know about this and I look forward to meeting you and yours.

    Gary

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