About me
Michael A. Simmons Jr. is an accomplished music educator, composer, and performer with over 17 years of teaching experience spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels. He currently serves as Assistant Professor of Music and Assistant Director of University Bands at Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland.A native of Ridgeland, South Carolina, Mr. Simmons was born in Beaufort, SC to Michael and Shirley Simmons. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Florida A&M University, a Master’s degree in Music Education (Instrumental Music) from Florida State University, and a Master of Fine Arts in Music Composition from Vermont College of Fine Arts.Throughout his academic and professional journey, Mr. Simmons has studied under esteemed mentors including Dr. Longineu Parsons and Mr. Andy Jaffe (composition), Professor Lindsey Sarjeant and Dr. Patrick Dunnigan (arranging), and Dr. Shelby Chipman and Dr. Richard Clary (conducting).His teaching career includes successful tenures at H.V. Jenkins High School in Savannah, GA, and Dutchtown Middle School in Hampton, GA, where his bands consistently earned Superior and Excellent ratings at the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) Large Group Performance Evaluations.An experienced arranger, Mr. Simmons has written music for high school and university bands, as well as for Block Band Music, LLC, a music publishing company. A dedicated trumpet performer, he has played with ensembles including the Tallahassee Winds, Big Bend Community Orchestra, Capital City Band, Savannah Winds, and the Cobb Wind Symphony.In addition to his civilian career, Mr. Simmons proudly serves as a soldier-musician in the 229th Army Band of the Maryland Army National Guard, based in Baltimore, MD.
