Yale Ellis was band director at Woodlawn High School (Birmingham) from 1927-1938, Sydney Lanier High School (Montgomery) from 1938-1955, and assistant band director at the University of Alabama from 1955-1967.  Under his direction, Woodlawn became the first high school band in Alabama to perform half-time shows at football games. Mr. Ellis was one of the originators of the Ala Breve magazine, and continued to contribute articles for the magazine throughout his career.  He was one of the pioneers of the Alabama Bandmasters Association, and later served as its President. 

Mr. Ellis was, for many years, director of the summer music camp at the University of Alabama, and taught music camps at Auburn University and in South Carolina. He also taught instrument repair on public television and in the classroom.