SLS 16RS-3249 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 155
BY SENATOR PETERSON
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Veronica "Ms. V" Downs-Dorsey on 25 years of
teaching vocal music at McDonogh 35 Senior High School and on 35 years as an educator
in the Orleans Parish school system.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend Veronica L. Downs-Dorsey on twenty-five years of teaching vocal music at
3 McDonogh 35 Senior High School and on thirty-five years as an educator in the
4 Orleans Parish school system.
5 WHEREAS, Veronica L. Downs-Dorsey, lovingly called "Ms. V" is a lifelong
6 resident of New Orleans and a staple in the gospel music community; and
7 WHEREAS, her early years were spent in a warm Christian environment with
8 positive role models and achievers from whom she drew inspiration and encouragement; and
9 WHEREAS, her musical talents and leadership were nurtured at St. Monica Catholic
10 Church and at the tender age of fourteen, Ms. V directed her first choir, The Golden
11 Emeralds, at Union Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church; and
12 WHEREAS, Ms. V graduated from McDonogh 35 Senior High School in 1974, and
13 earned a Bachelor of Music Education from Xavier University in New Orleans and a Master
14 of Music Education from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond; and
15 WHEREAS, she has been an educator in the Orleans Parish school system for the
16 past thirty-five years and the choral music teacher at McDonogh 35 Senior High School for
17 the past twenty-five years; and
18 WHEREAS, the choir at McDonogh 35 Senior High School, commonly called the
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SLS 16RS-3249 ORIGINAL
1 Singing Roneagles, is historically renowned as having been the first high school gospel choir
2 to assemble in the city of New Orleans and the first high school gospel choir to perform at
3 the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, having performed in the gospel tent every year
4 since their first performance; and
5 WHEREAS, under Ms. V's direction and leadership, the Singing Roneagles have
6 received numerous nominations and accepted their Best of the Beat Awards from Offbeat
7 Magazine for Best Gospel Group for the second consecutive year during a gala held at
8 Generations Hall on January 21, 2016; and
9 WHEREAS, Ms. V is the past director of the New Orleans Gospel Soul Children and
10 currently leads the Voices of Peter Claver, the main gospel choir of St. Peter Claver Catholic
11 Church; and
12 WHEREAS, she is a member of The New Orleans Black Chorale, where she serves
13 as its principal pianist, and is also a member of Tyrone Foster and the Arc Singers, the
14 Davell Crawford Singers, and the New Orleans Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of
15 America, Inc., and is co-director of the Archdiocesan Mass Choir; and
16 WHEREAS, Ms. V received the 2015 Trailblazer Award at the NOLA Gospel
17 Awards and was honored in 2016 by the New Orleans City Council in recognition of
18 Women's History Month; and
19 WHEREAS, Veronica L. Downs-Dorsey is an artist who demonstrates her talents as
20 a performer, soloist, director, instructor, organist, and pianist for all to enjoy; and
21 WHEREAS, her love for gospel music, her students, and her Creator make her a
22 positive role model, whose attributes strengthen her church, her students, her community,
23 and the state of Louisiana.
24 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
25 does hereby commend Veronica L. "Ms. V" Downs-Dorsey on twenty-five glorious years
26 of teaching choral music at McDonogh 35 Senior High School and on thirty-five years of
27 tireless dedication and guidance to students in the Orleans Parish school system.
28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
29 Veronica L. Downs-Dorsey.
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Nancy Vicknair.
DIGEST
SR 155 Original 2016 Regular Session Peterson
Commends Veronica L. Downs-Dorsey on 25 years of teaching vocal music at McDonogh
35 Senior High School and on 35 years as an educator in the Orleans Parish school system.
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