Tennessee Valley Winds
Tennessee Valley Winds Tennessee Valley Winds - A Nashville/Murfreesboro Community Concert Band Erich Zimmerman, Director
Erich Zimmerman, Director  

Harold Ray

Tennessee Valley Winds - Harold Ray Harold Ray, a native of Hoopeston, Illinois, attended the University of Illinois where he earned a Bachelor and Master degrees including 30 hours of doctoral studies in music education.

He has been a member of the Tennessee Valley Winds since 1992 where he has played trumpet, french horn, baritone horn and percussion.

He has taught wind, string and percussion instruments, and directed school bands and orchestras from 1952-1985. His bands consistently won first awards, including two Illinois sweepstakes awards for best band. He has also guest conducted band and orchestra festivals and adjudicated solo, ensemble, band and orchestra contests.

From 1946-1985 he played professionally with named and semi-named bands throughout the country as a trumpet and flugelhorn player and as a vocalist. Most were in the Chicagoland area. He also played string bass and trumpet with the Knox College Symphony and directed three church choirs. For four years he was co-director of the Air Force Band at Donaldson Air Force Base in South Carolina.

Ray is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and past member of MENC, NBA, IBDA, IMEA and NGSOA.

He lives with his wife Annie Jean in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and they have two children, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.