WHEREAS, in 2023, Ulysses S. James retired as Conductor and Music Director of the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic after nearly four decades of exceptional leadership and contributions to the musical arts; and

WHEREAS, Ulysses James graduated with honors from Brown University and studied with the principal trombonist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra as an undergraduate student; and

WHEREAS, Ulysses James subsequently attended a summer program at the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Tanglewood Music Center and was accepted to two prestigious graduate programs, but he ultimately joined the United States Navy after receiving his draft notice; and

WHEREAS, Ulysses James served the nation with distinction, earning five Navy Commendation Medals over the course of a 20-year career with the United States Navy, and retired with the rank of commander in 1979; and

WHEREAS, after his honorable military service, Ulysses James returned to the performing arts, studying the cello before becoming a conductor; in 1984, he joined what is now the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic as Conductor and Music Director and helped the orchestra grow from a small, local string ensemble to one of the premier orchestras in the region; and

WHEREAS, a champion for young musicians, Ulysses James served as conductor of the Washington Metropolitan Youth Orchestra from 1984 to 2011, and in 2008, he helped establish the Washington Metropolitan Concert Orchestra for middle school students; and

WHEREAS, in addition, Ulysses James hosted a summer chamber music series for professional and amateur musicians at the Lyceum in Alexandria for more than three decades, and he created a regional composition competition for aspiring composers in 2006; and

WHEREAS, from 2010 to 2013, Ulysses James also offered his leadership to the arts community as president of what is now the Alexandria Arts Alliance; and

WHEREAS, over the course of his career, Ulysses James conducted concerts in Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, the Music Center at Strathmore, and the Concert Hall and Terrace Theater at the Kennedy Center; he touched countless lives through his outstanding technical ability and his unwavering commitment to creating new opportunities in the performing arts; and

WHEREAS, among many awards and accolades, Ulysses James received the Alex Award from the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, the Mount Vernon District Citizen of the Year Award, and a regional award for his dedicated mentorship of children; he was also honored as a Living Legend of Alexandria in 2016; and

WHEREAS, upon his well-earned retirement as conductor and music director, Ulysses James was named as the music director laureate of the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Ulysses S. James hereby be commended on the occasion of his retirement as Conductor and Music Director of the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Ulysses S. James as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for his contributions to musical education and cultural life in Northern Virginia.