Ron Simmons is currently the Executive Director for Music Tours Unlimited.
His company provides directors and students of school music programs with festivals, and performance tours that help support and reinforce music education. These programs include MUSIC FESTIVALS, MUSIC Showcase FESTIVALS, CRUISE FESTIVALS, International and Domestic Performance Tours and The Macy’s Great American Marching Band, which is an ensemble open to individual band and color guard members from all fifty states, and the District of Columbia and is selected through submitted auditions.
Mr. Simmons served as a band director in Virginia for fifteen years and is currently beginning his fourteenth year with MUSIC TOURS UNLIMITED. He has also served as music director for several churches in Virginia for the past twenty-eight years and is currently in his eleventh year as Assistant Conductor and Music Assistant at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. He served as an officer for the Virginia Band and Orchestra Director’s Association and served on the Council of Review for The Virginia Music Educators Association. Mr. Simmons also served as District I Chairman as Instrumental Representative. Through VMEA, he was appointed as Associated Director and eventually Director of the VMEA Music Camp that was held during the summer and served on the Virginia Music Camp staff for over twelve years. He was appointed chairman and organizer of the fiftieth Anniversary Honor’s Band & Orchestra for VMEA. In 2002, Mr. Simmons was conductor of the massed band for the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
His ensembles have consistently earned Superior Ratings at Festivals and contest. He has had the opportunity to conduct many All County, All District and All Area Honor Ensembles. He is active as a guest clinician and adjudicator and serves on the music staff of The Macy’s Great American Marching Band, which is the honor band for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Paradeä, in New York. He also serves as audition chairman for the brass and woodwinds for the MGAMB.
Mr. Simmons received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education Degree from Western Carolina University and completed graduate work from Longwood University in School Administration. He has been selected several times to Who’s Who Among American Teachers and just recently completed a book with Eddie Hill entitled, “The Music Educator’s Motivational Guide.” This is a “how – to” guide for motivating and building a true cohesive ensemble. Mr. Simmons holds membership with the Music Educators National Conference and the Student Youth & Travel Association.