James W. Simmons assumed the position of Music Director on February 1, 1980 and was the band's sixth music director in its eighty-four year history. A native of Charlottesville, Simmons graduated from Lane High School in 1947, received a B.S. in Music education in 1951 from Concord College, Athens, West Virginia and a M Ed. in Music education from the University of Virginia in 1959. In 1956 Simmons became band director at Albemarle High School in Charlottesville, a position he held until 1971 during which time the Albemarle Band consistently received "superior" and "excellent" ratings in festival competitions. In 1971 Simmons was appointed Fine Arts Coordinator for the Albemarle County Public Schools, a position he held until his retirement in 1984. Simmons was quite active in the Virginia Band & Orchestra Directors Association and the Virginia Music Educators Association. He is a past president of both organizations and was honored by VBODA for his "many years of contributions to the improvement of instrumental music in the Commonwealth of Virginia". Simmons also served as Editor of VEMA's official publication "NOTES". Simmons began playing in the Charlottesville Municipal Band in 1946 and has served on two occasions as president of the band's Board of Directors. Since his appointment as Music Director in 1980, the band's membership grew to 85, playing in concerts both in and outdoors attracting overflow audiences. Jim retired as of December 31, 2006. He conducted his final program at the spring concert on April 24,2007.

To top