Dawn W.

Dawn was born and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland. She has earned a Master’s degree in Music Education from Howard University in Washington, D.C. In addition, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana. She is currently matriculating in the VanderCook College of Music where she is enrolled in several music courses.

Ms. Wilson currently teaches in the Alexandria City Public Schools District (ACPS) and is the band director at Francis C. Hammond Middle School in Alexandria, VA. Ms. Wilson is in her 17th year teaching, and her 11th year as a band director. Since starting at Hammond MS, Ms. Wilson has provided a plethora of performing opportunities for her students. She invites music professionals to work with her students, helps students from her band program become participants in All-District Band events, and gives students opportunities to perform at the Kennedy Center, community events, festivals, and school-wide events. Over the years, Ms. Wilson’s band ensembles have earned Superior and Excellent ratings from district band assessments and regional music festival competitions.

Outside of teaching middle school band, Dawn is very active in her community a a private and group music instructor. She is a trumpet performer in numerous music ensembles as well. Since the COVID pandemic, Ms. Wilson was worked as a band teacher for the Summer Music Camp in the City of Alexandria, VA. She currently performs with the NOVA Alexandria Concert Band, the Sanctified Symphony Orchestra of Alfred Street Baptist Church, and the Washington D.C. Go-Go Symphony.

Her involvement and talent have earned her several accolades and musicianship awards over the years. In 2009, Dawn became the first African American woman to earn the Conrad Hutchinson Award for Outstanding Musicianship at Grambling State University. Years later in 2013, Dawn was a recipient for the Gladys Stone Wright Scholarship from the prestigious Women Band Director's International (WBDI) Organization.

Ms. Wilson’s professional affiliations include becoming a member of Tau Beta Sigma, National Honorary Band Sorority, Inc., Sigma Alpha Iota, International Music Fraternity for Women, and the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME). She has also served as the treasurer for the Association of Black Women Band Directors (ABWBD). During Ms. Wilson’s graduate studies, she earned the privilege of traveling to Vienna, Austria and Siena, Italy to study music abroad and perform chamber repertoire. The following year in 2015, Ms. Wilson enjoyed the tremendous opportunity to teach music courses to policemen at the police academy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Dawn has been so blessed to perform with and share the stage with renowned Jazz and music artists such as: Benny Golson, Hugh Masekela, Roy Hargrove, Tom Browne, Javon Jackson, Hubert Laws, Sonny Fortune, Marion Meadows, Marcus Johnson, Larry Graham, Mike Vax, Jimmy Owens, Jon Faddis, and Doc Severinsen. In the future, Ms. Dawn aspires to earn a Doctorate in Music and become a college music professor. Ms. Wilson’s lifelong goal is to inspire people through music, to provide significant learning experiences and opportunities for her students, and to become a music ambassador.