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Councilmember Robert White Jr. Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. 2
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Councilmember Vincent C. Gray Councilmember Janeese Lewis George 6
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Councilmember Charles Allen Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau 10
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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 24
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 27
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To recognize and honor Howard University Professor and Kennedy Center Opera House 30
Musical Theatre Orchestra trumpeter Fred Irby III for 50 years of service in education at 31
Howard University, to commend him for leading award-winning undergraduate and 32
graduate students ensembles, and to celebrate his many musical achievements and 33
awards as one of the best trumpeters in the world. 34
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WHEREAS, Professor Irby III, native to Mobile, Alabama, attended Grambling State 36
University and Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville; 37
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WHEREAS, Professor Irby III began his tenure at Howard University after accepting a 39
position as Professor of Music in 1974; 40
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WHEREAS, Professor Irby III then became the Coordinator of Instrumental Music and 42
Director of the Howard University Jazz Ensemble, and in that role, facilitated and conducted 43
Howard University student ensembles in concerts throughout the United States, Romania, 44
Venezuela, Colombia, Guatemala, China, Japan, Senegal, West Africa, Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad, 45
Martinique, St. Thomas, and St. Croix; 46 47
WHEREAS, Professor Irby III established the Benny Golson Jazz Master Award in 1996 48
to honor the legacy of master composer and saxophonist Benny Golson; 49
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WHEREAS, Professor Irby III was instrumental in establishing the endowed Abraham S. 51
Venable Scholarship for students in the Jazz Studies Program at Howard University; 52
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WHEREAS, Professor Irby III has served as the Music Director of the Maryland, 54
Oklahoma, and Northwest MENC All-State Honor Jazz Ensembles; 55
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WHEREAS, Professor Irby III is a well-respected and experienced musical jurist, and has 57
served as a adjudicator for Downbeat magazine competitions, the Student Music Awards, the 58
Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, and the Congressional Black Caucus Spouses Foundation 59
Performing Arts Scholarship; 60
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WHEREAS, Professor Irby III was awarded the Outstanding Creative Work, Outstanding 62
Teaching, and Outstanding Services Awards during the 2022 Inaugural Chadwick A. Boseman 63
College of Fine Arts Distinguished Faculty and Staff Awards; 64
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WHEREAS, Professor Irby III was designated a Lowell Mason Fellow by the National 66
Association for Music Education in 2009, received the Disney Performing Arts Award in 2009, 67
received the Ronnie Wells Jazz Service Award in 2016 by the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, 68
received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 during the DC Jazz Festival Gala, and was 69
inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame in Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and 70
Grambling State University in 2016 and 2008 respectively; 71
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WHEREAS, Professor Irby III is the Principal Trumpet of the Kennedy Center Opera 73
House Musical Theater Orchestra, and has been commissioned to collaborate with and perform 74
works of renowned African-American composers including Ulysses S. Kay, Tromba, and 75
Frederick C. Tillis; 76
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WHEREAS, Professor Irby III served as the Musical Director for the Washington Ballet 78
in 2004 in Havana, Cuba; 79
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WHEREAS, Professor Irby III performed at the U.S. Embassy in Senegal to represent the 81
USA international St. Louis Jazz Festival, the largest Jazz Festival in Africa; 82
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WHEREAS, Professor Irby III has performed for the 87
th
, 88
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, 89
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, and 90
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Academy 84
Awards, the 56
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Primetime Emmy Awards, Dancing with the Stars, America’s Got Talent, The 85
Gershwin Awards, and The Horatio Alger Awards, and many other prestigious events all over 86
the world; 87
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WHEREAS, Professor Irby III dedicated his life to the practice of music and the 89
development of young musicians, inspiring students and listeners worldwide with passion, 90
dedication, talent, and creativity; 91
92 RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 93
resolution may be cited as the “Professor Fred Irby III Recognition Resolution of 2023”. 94
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Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia heartily honors Professor Irby for his 96
many accomplishments and contributions to the District of Columbia, Howard University, and 97
the international arts community. 98
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Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in 100
the District of Columbia Register. 101
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