(1946– )
Patsy Ford Simms was first published in 1981 and has written over 300
songs for the educational and church markets with several leading publishing
companies. She began writing and arranging out of necessity due to the
lack of choral octavos for the junior high/middle school voice during
the first decade of her teaching career. She received a Bachelor of Science
degree in Music Education from Knoxville College, a Master of Education
from the University of Louisville and a doctorate in Music Education from
Columbia Pacific University.
Presently Patsy has retired from teaching full time having taught 30
years in grades K-12 and at the Youth Performing Arts School. She still
teaches part-time at an alternative school (grades K-8) in Louisville,
Kentucky and is a contributing consultant with Alfred, Shawnee Press and
Warner Bros. She is internationally recognized as an arranger, composer
and clinician and has been a presenter in Italy and Africa. Several commissioned
works have been composed by Patsy as well as short musicals about African
American History. Two of her compositions, Climbin' Up The Mountain
and Amani Utupe were selected for two MENC World"s Largest Concerts
and she annually receives the ASCAP Special Music Award.
Patsy currently resides in Louisville with her husband, Dr. Otis Turner,
a Presbyterian Minister. They are grandparents and have three grown sons.