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Teri Simmons, composer, arranger, pianist and organist, is a proud native of Oakland, California. She has served as Minister of Music for over 33 years, providing music program leadership for many churches throughout the Bay Area with the most recent being the St. Paul African-American Methodist Episcopal Church, Berkeley, California. She is also the primary organist/pianist for the Oakland Bay Area Community Chorus (OBACC) under the direction of William Bell and co-director, Loni Williams. She attended Oakwood College, Huntsville, Alabama where she majored in Business Administration and Music. She is a graduate of Golden Gate Academy of Oakland, California. Teri has and continues to serve in multiple administrative and musical capacities, working with a wide variety of church and local organizations, choirs of varying age groups, ministers and local musicians. An accomplished pianist and organist, Teri has traveled throughout the United States and overseas as guest musician for many concerts and programs. Teri has received numerous awards and certificates. She was honored as an Outstanding Musician in 2009 and voted as Outstanding Organist during the 1999 Bay Area Gospel Academy Awards. In 1997 she received the coveted ORBY Award for Professional Leadership from the Bay Area National Chapter of Operation Reach Back. Because of her extensive knowledge of music law, she is often sought out to be a presenter at various workshops to teach copyright processes or song writing essentials. She especially enjoys helping other musicians by sharing information and offering music notation services should they need it. Teri has written and published over two hundred original works. Two of her major works, “The Last Words of Jesus,” and “Because of Love,” have been performed by many Bay Area churches over the last seven years and one of her compositions “I Thirst for the Living Water” was performed by the Thurston G. Frazier Memorial Chorale during the Commencement Service at the GMWA Convention in August 2003. She has also produced an album of piano hymn arrangements. In 1988, after surviving a devastating fire which destroyed her family’s entire home and possessions, she formed the singing group, “Teri Simmons with Renewed Faith.” Under her direction and leadership, the group released their first album-length recording in 1994, “Use Me Your Way” which features original selections written and arranged by Teri drawn from inspired messages from her personal Christian experiences. She has also co-produced professional recordings for several vocal artists such as Shirley Graves and Betty Tipton and has provided music transcription and notation services for many great gospel composers such as Steven Roberts, Patrick Bradley, Charlene Moore, Allowyn Price, etc.
She is married to Henry Simmons. Her family members include a son,
Henry Arthur, Jr., who passed away December 2002, a daughter, Cerrissa
Simmons, a daughter-in-law, Danielle Simmons and an adopted son, Lakenzo
Bowie. Teri is currently employed with the Department of Homeland
Security, Federal Protective Services, as the Regional Financial
Officer. She has been employed with the US Government for over 31
years. Her favorite scripture is “I can do all things through Christ
which strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13. Profile Minister of Music with over 33 years of music program administration experience in the San Francisco Bay Area with an emphasis on choir directing and building, music training, and providing piano/organ accompaniment. Have served in multiple capacities, working with a wide variety of church and local organizational affiliations, choirs, age groups, ministers and musicians. Extensive administrative and technical skills utilized to conduct music training sessions, plan worship service programs, and coordinate musicals, fund-raisers, etc. Able to manage overall program planning for organizations with multiple choirs and musicians as well as those with only one or two choirs. Am technically proficient in piano, organ and electronic keyboards applications; familiar with a wide range of music types and styles, i.e., sacred, hymns, folk, gospel, jazz, contemporary, etc.; able to read, compose, score, direct and play music as required.
Professional Experience
Special Projects and Other Related Positions
Education Oakwood College, Huntsville, Alabama - Business Administration and Music, 1976 Laney and Merritt Colleges, Oakland, CA - 1983 to 1995, Various Music and General Studies Contra Costa College, Richmond, CA - 1984 to 1987, Supervision/Personnel Mgmt Certificate Member of the National Association of Negro Musicians (2002 to Present)
Computers & Keyboards Business: IBM: WordPerfect, Word, LOTUS, Access, Excel, Quicken, QuickBooks, Publisher, Adobe Page Maker, Office 2000, Power Point, Outlook Music Production: Cubase, Cubase Score, Finale Keyboard Workstations: Various keyboards including, Korg M-1, Ensonique TS-10, TS-12
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