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2007 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 782
Commending James William Simmons.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 26, 2007
Agreed to by the Senate, February 1, 2007

 

WHEREAS, James William Simmons of Charlottesville is recognized for over 50 years of outstanding service to the Charlottesville/Albemarle community; and

WHEREAS, Jim Simmons graduated from Lane High School, received a bachelor's degree in music education from Concord College in Athens, West Virginia, and earned a master's degree in music education from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville; and

WHEREAS, in 1956 Jim Simmons began his service to Albemarle County Public Schools as director of the Albemarle High School band, serving in that position until 1971; and

WHEREAS, Jim Simmons continued his commitment to build and maintain the quality of music and arts education in the Albemarle County Public Schools as fine arts coordinator from 1971 to 1984; and

WHEREAS, from 1953 to 1966, Jim Simmons was choir director of the Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Memorial Church in Charlottesville and was director of bands at the University of Virginia from 1966 to 1969; and

WHEREAS, Jim Simmons shared his knowledge and immense talents with his profession as president of the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association, which in 1995 awarded him its coveted Phillip J. Fuller Service Award for his many contributions to the improvement of instrumental music in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Jim Simmons served as president of the Virginia Music Educators Association and as the editor of Notes, its official publication; and from 1956 to the present, he guest conducted for instrumental music festivals in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, in 1946 Jim Simmons joined the Municipal Band of Charlottesville, Incorporated, one of the oldest continuously performing, volunteer, amateur municipal bands in the United States that, over the course of its 85-year history, has served as honor guard for three Virginia governors, played for six United States Presidents, and performed for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England; and

WHEREAS, Jim Simmons served many terms and held several offices as a board member of the Municipal Band of Charlottesville, beginning in 1953 until his appointment as the band’s sixth music director in 1980; and

WHEREAS, under Jim Simmons’ musical direction, the Municipal Band has continued its tradition of free concerts to the citizens of the Charlottesville/Albemarle community; and also, in the spirit of municipal service to the citizens of the Commonwealth and beyond, the band has participated with pride in civic events honoring the graduating classes of Piedmont Virginia Community College and persons from all over the world taking the oath of United States citizenship at Monticello; and

WHEREAS, because of Jim Simmons’ visionary leadership and hard work, the Municipal Band of Charlottesville established and now maintains the Municipal Arts Center in Charlottesville providing rehearsal and meeting space for all community groups dedicated to the enjoyment, teaching, and performance of fine arts and in support of civic service for the community; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend and congratulate James William Simmons for over 50 years of steadfast dedication to the quality of music education and performance in the Charlottesville/Albemarle area, fostering public appreciation of music as an enduring and valuable community resource, and promoting fellowship among area musicians; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to James William Simmons as an expression of the General Assembly’s appreciation of his many accomplishments.