Timothy DeSimone 

(434) 409-0515 | timdesimone@gmail.com | Charlottesville, VA   

 
Education Profile 
James Madison University, ​Harrisonburg VA (2017-2021) Committed to inclusive musical practices 
Bachelor of Music: Instrumental Music Education centered on school and local community. Focused 
Minor: Jazz Studies on creating strong musical habits and a 
VDOE Teacher Licensure Area: Music: Instrumental PreK-12 lifelong appreciation of music and learning. 
 
Teaching Experience 
Student Teacher, ​Shelburne Middle School - ​Staunton City Schools​ (​January-March 2021​) 
➢ Gained experience teaching 6, 7, and 8th grade band in both in-person and virtual settings 
➢ Studying with Mr. Jon Wilson to develop music, administrative, and personal teaching skills 
Drum Major, ​Marching Royal Dukes - ​James Madison University ​(​July 2020- Present​) 
➢ Student staff member of the 450+ person marching band at James Madison University 
➢ Teach and conduct full ensemble, two 200 person bands, and numerous sections 
➢ Oversee and lead the 70+ person student leadership team 
➢ Coordinate communication between members of band with leadership team and staff 
➢ Act as ambassador to the University and Harrisonburg community in public events and outreach 
Organizer and Teacher, ​ Free Online Lessons - ​Statewide​ (​March 2020- July 2020​) 
➢ Created system of communication and outreach for JMU Music students to offer free online music 
lessons to K-12 Virginia students following the closure of schools due to COVID-19 (over 700 
lessons taught in the first month alone) 
➢ Taught personal private studio of five students ranging ages 8-16 Piano and Saxophone 
Summer Band Camps Counselor, ​James Madison University - ​Harrisonburg, VA​ (​July 2020​) 
➢ Taught and helped facilitate the Drum Major Camp for high school students 
➢ Personally worked with 15 students to develop leadership, conducting, and teamwork skills  
➢ Facilitated large and small group discussions, and assisted visiting speakers in presentations 
Teaching Artist, ​Summer Festival of the Arts - ​Bar Harbor, ME (​ ​July 2018​) 
➢ Organized and facilitated all teaching, arranging, and rehearsing of a middle school Jazz Band and 
Drum Circle in a summer music camp 
➢ Collaborated with other artists to teach photography, writing, and theatre classes 
➢ Conducted band and drum circle in final performances for camp finale 
 
Professional Experience 
Vice-President, ​Gamma Alpha Chapter of ​Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia​ (​August 2020- May 2021​) 
➢ Act as head of all committees, philanthropy, and membership of a 48-man music fraternity 
➢ Conducted all planning for our 2021 Province Workshop for 50+ attendees from 10+ Universities 
​ enter for Inclusive Music Engagement, ​James Madison University​ (​Jan-Dec 2019​) 
Innovation Leader, C
➢ Independently researched and presented “C​hallenging Exclusionary Paradigms: Equity and Queering of 
Musicking Spaces​” to University community and stakeholders 
➢ Facilitator in inaugural “​Disability Studies and Music Education Symposium​”  
➢ Participated in outreach to Harrisonburg schools and neighborhoods through the ​JMUke​ and 
JamVan​ initiatives, bringing ukuleles and drums to Farmers Markets, bars, and community centers  
Study Abroad, ​at the Montreal Jazz Festival with JMU, ​McGill University​ (​June-July 2019​) 
 Timothy DeSimone 
(434) 409-0515 | timdesimone@gmail.com | Charlottesville, VA   
 
Performance Experience ​Community Bands 
James Madison University (2017-2021)​ ​Bloo Lagoon, ​(2018-2021) 
Symphonic Band Concert Band ​Harrisonburg based funk collective  
Jazz Ensemble Jazz Band ​Charlottesville Municipal Band (2018-2019) 
Jazz Combos Marching Royal Dukes ​Crozet Community Orchestra (2016-2017) 
Saxophone Quartets Saxophone Choir ​On Tenor Saxophone and Bb Clarinet 
 
Awards and Honors 
Recognized​, 1 of 8 JMU students across all undergraduates honored for service to the JMU community by 
the IN8 Society of James Madison University (2021) 
Recipient,​ chosen from among all JMU Music students as representative for the College of Visual and 
Performing Arts, by attending the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities in Cincinatti, OH (2020)  
Recipient,​ selected by University-wide application as one of two students to represent James Madison and the 
United States at the University Scholars Leadership Symposium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2019) 
 
Additional Qualifications 
CPR and First Aid Certified​ (Red Cross) ​VIRTUS Sexual Abuse Training​ (National Catholic) 
Child Abuse and Prevention Certificate​ (Virginia Social Services) ​Dyslexia Awareness Certificate​ (VDOE) 
Keyboard Proficiency​ (JMU School of Music) ​IRB Human Research Certificate ​(CITI) 
 
References 
 
Scott Rikkers Dr. William Dabback 
Director of Marching Royal Dukes Director of Graduate Studies, JMU School of Music 
Student Teaching Advisor Music Education Professor 
(540) 421-8197 (540) 908-6713 
rikkersd@jmu.edu dabbacwm@jmu.edu 
 
Amy Birdsong Jon Wilson 
Assistant Director of Bands, JMU Band Director, Shelburne Middle School 
Professor Cooperating Teacher 
(804) 536-2845 (540) 986-9418 
birdsoae@jmu.edu jwilson@staunton.k12.va.us 
 
Portfolio 
For a more thorough representation of my teaching and academic work, please explore my virtual portfolio 
at: ​timothydesimone.weebly.com