Bill Text: VA HJR186 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending Annie Ray.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 41-19)
Status: (Passed) 2024-03-06 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ186ER) [HJR186 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HJR186-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, Annie Ray, music educator, orchestra director, and chair of the Performing Arts Department at Annandale High School, was named the winner of the 2024 Music Educator Award from the Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Museum from over 2,000 nominees; and
WHEREAS, Annie Ray was presented the prestigious Grammy Music Educator Award during the 66th Annual Grammy Awards weekend in recognition of the significant and lasting contributions she has made to the field of music education; and
WHEREAS, inspired by the diversity of Annandale High School, where the student body is drawn from more than 60 countries, Annie Ray has worked tirelessly to improve access to music education for all; and
WHEREAS, Annie Ray created the Crescendo Orchestra to help students with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities learn an instrument and experience the joy of playing music, taking great care and consideration to meet each student at their level and to support their needs; and
WHEREAS, Annie Ray established the Fairfax County Public Schools Parent Orchestra, which provides hundreds of caregivers the opportunity to learn an instrument alongside their child, bringing families closer while facilitating the music education process; and
WHEREAS, Annie Ray prepares her students for success both as musicians and in their future lives by instilling in them the confidence they need to both make mistakes and learn from them; and
WHEREAS, as a Wolf Trap Foundation grantee in 2022–2023, Annie Ray brought Grammy-nominated musician Christylez Bacon to Annandale High School as an artist-in-residence to teach improvisation and composition to the school's orchestra ensembles; and
WHEREAS, Annie Ray is a member of the StringRise professional development organization for music educators and has presented at numerous colleges and conferences on music education; and
WHEREAS, in addition to her Grammy Award, Annie Ray was also named the 2023 Fairfax County Public School's Outstanding Secondary Teacher of the Year for her efforts to promote equity in education; and
WHEREAS, by upholding the noblest virtues of the education profession in her commitment to her students, Annie Ray has earned the respect and esteem of all Virginians; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Annie Ray for receiving the 2024 Grammy Music Educator Award; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Annie Ray as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for her renowned achievements and for her contributions to the education and personal development of students in the Commonwealth.
