I am lucky to be me . . . I have been fortunate to write music, teach great kids, be part of a loving family, enjoy the company of the best of friends, and find peace and beauty in as many ways and forms as possible . . . . I get to enjoy everyday of my life. Thanks for stopping by and giving my music a listen. And I hope you are as lucky in your life as I am in mine.
Portions of these Biographical Notes are taken from the Jessie Ball duPont Educator’s Award program . . . Boyd Holmes
This year’s recipient of the Jessie Ball duPont Educator’s Award is Delaware teacher, musician, and composer Boyd Holmes.
A graduate of the Salesianum School, Mister Holmes received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University Of Delaware as well as a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Wilmington College.
In June 2014, he accepted at the position of instructor of music at the New Castle Elementary School. Mr. Holmes was chosen to serve as Teacher of the Year for the 2015-16 school year at the New Castle Elementary School.
From July 2016 until July 2018, he served as instructor of music and choral director at the Kathleen H. Wilbur Elementary School.
After a several-year hiatus, in August of 2024, Mr. Holmes returned to to teaching music and chorus at the Harry O. Eisenberg Elementary School in the Colonial School District.
In 2011, Mr. Holmes designed and taught a Songwriting/Composition course for masters students at the University of Delaware.
In October, 2018, Mr. Holmes presented "Leadership & Classroom Management in the Music Room: Success from Day One, Class One, Minute One, Second One" at the Delaware Music Educators Association Annual Conference.
From 1992 to 2008, Mister Holmes served as the instructor of music at the John G. Leach School. Leach School serves pupils residing in New Castle County, ages 3-21, who have physical disabilities, moderate to severe intellectual disability, or serious health impairments. Under the leadership of Principal John Jadach, the Leach School has been recognized as the nation's first M.O.V.E. (Mobility Opportunities Via Education) Model Site and a recipient of the State of Delaware Parent Partnership Award, Delaware State Chamber of Commerce Superstars in Education Award, as well as other competitive grants. Mister Holmes collaborated extensively with the Leach team of administrators, therapists, and teachers. Holmes was honored with Leach School’s Teacher of the Year award in 1999.
Portions of these Biographical Notes are taken from the Jessie Ball duPont Educator’s Award program . . . Boyd Holmes
This year’s recipient of the Jessie Ball duPont Educator’s Award is Delaware teacher, musician, and composer Boyd Holmes.
A graduate of the Salesianum School, Mister Holmes received a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University Of Delaware as well as a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Wilmington College.
In June 2014, he accepted at the position of instructor of music at the New Castle Elementary School. Mr. Holmes was chosen to serve as Teacher of the Year for the 2015-16 school year at the New Castle Elementary School.
From July 2016 until July 2018, he served as instructor of music and choral director at the Kathleen H. Wilbur Elementary School.
After a several-year hiatus, in August of 2024, Mr. Holmes returned to to teaching music and chorus at the Harry O. Eisenberg Elementary School in the Colonial School District.
In 2011, Mr. Holmes designed and taught a Songwriting/Composition course for masters students at the University of Delaware.
In October, 2018, Mr. Holmes presented "Leadership & Classroom Management in the Music Room: Success from Day One, Class One, Minute One, Second One" at the Delaware Music Educators Association Annual Conference.
From 1992 to 2008, Mister Holmes served as the instructor of music at the John G. Leach School. Leach School serves pupils residing in New Castle County, ages 3-21, who have physical disabilities, moderate to severe intellectual disability, or serious health impairments. Under the leadership of Principal John Jadach, the Leach School has been recognized as the nation's first M.O.V.E. (Mobility Opportunities Via Education) Model Site and a recipient of the State of Delaware Parent Partnership Award, Delaware State Chamber of Commerce Superstars in Education Award, as well as other competitive grants. Mister Holmes collaborated extensively with the Leach team of administrators, therapists, and teachers. Holmes was honored with Leach School’s Teacher of the Year award in 1999.
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Teacher of the Year
John G. Leach School Colonial School District 1998-1999 Teacher of the Year New Castle Elementary School Colonial School District 2015-2016 |
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Delaware Symphony’s
Jessie Ball du Pont Music Educator’s Award Presented to the music educator of the year for the entire state of Delaware First Runner-up, 2005 First Place, 2007 |
Sound Tracks/Film Scoring/
Compositions (partial list)
“Art Underfoot” - (42 episodes) (PBS/American Public Television/International)
“Bandstand Days” - Cultural Documentary/Pledge Special (PBS/American Public Television)
“Central Casting” - Historical Documentary (BRAVO Channel)
“Drawing a Blank” - Original Narrative Children's Drama (NICKELODEON Channel special)
“Guinea Worm: The End of the Road” - Documentary sponsored by President Jimmy Carter’s Carter Center (regional PBS/International)
“Journey to Freedom: The African American Experience in Delaware” - Historical Documentary for the Historical Society of Delaware
“House of Love” – choral piece commissioned by McDonald’s and premiered at the opening of their Delaware Ronald McDonald House
“Lead the Way” – choral piece composed for New Castle Elementary School’s first Leadership Day
“Little Nemo in Slumberland” – full 90-minute musical including score, orchestrations, lyrics, and libretto based on the life of American artist Winsor McCay
As a professional composer, Mister Holmes’ compositions have been heard in a wide variety of media – radio, network and cable television, the Discovery Channel, Nickelodeon, as well as PBS.
Mister Holmes has served as Composer in Residence for the City of Wilmington and was also commissioned by the MacDonald’s Corporation to compose a song commemorating the opening of Delaware’s Ronald MacDonald House.
His composing credits include creating scores for the Bank of New York, the Delaware Humanities Forum, the American Cancer Society, Catholic Charities, the United Way, and President Jimmy Carter’s Carter Center. Mr. Holmes also composed and recorded the score for the internationally broadcasted 42-part television series, “Art Under Foot”.
Mister Holmes is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and composed, performed, and recorded the soundtrack to "Our Earth, Our Home", a cable environmental program that received an Academy of Television Arts & Sciences regional EMMY. In addition, he has subsequently served as a judge for the Philadelphia market EMMY competitions. He has served on the
Sound Tracks/Film Scoring/
Compositions (partial list)
“Art Underfoot” - (42 episodes) (PBS/American Public Television/International)
“Bandstand Days” - Cultural Documentary/Pledge Special (PBS/American Public Television)
“Central Casting” - Historical Documentary (BRAVO Channel)
“Drawing a Blank” - Original Narrative Children's Drama (NICKELODEON Channel special)
“Guinea Worm: The End of the Road” - Documentary sponsored by President Jimmy Carter’s Carter Center (regional PBS/International)
“Journey to Freedom: The African American Experience in Delaware” - Historical Documentary for the Historical Society of Delaware
“House of Love” – choral piece commissioned by McDonald’s and premiered at the opening of their Delaware Ronald McDonald House
“Lead the Way” – choral piece composed for New Castle Elementary School’s first Leadership Day
“Little Nemo in Slumberland” – full 90-minute musical including score, orchestrations, lyrics, and libretto based on the life of American artist Winsor McCay
As a professional composer, Mister Holmes’ compositions have been heard in a wide variety of media – radio, network and cable television, the Discovery Channel, Nickelodeon, as well as PBS.
Mister Holmes has served as Composer in Residence for the City of Wilmington and was also commissioned by the MacDonald’s Corporation to compose a song commemorating the opening of Delaware’s Ronald MacDonald House.
His composing credits include creating scores for the Bank of New York, the Delaware Humanities Forum, the American Cancer Society, Catholic Charities, the United Way, and President Jimmy Carter’s Carter Center. Mr. Holmes also composed and recorded the score for the internationally broadcasted 42-part television series, “Art Under Foot”.
Mister Holmes is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and composed, performed, and recorded the soundtrack to "Our Earth, Our Home", a cable environmental program that received an Academy of Television Arts & Sciences regional EMMY. In addition, he has subsequently served as a judge for the Philadelphia market EMMY competitions. He has served on the
- Board of Directors for the City Theater Company of Wilmington, Delaware.
- Board of Directors for the Philadelphia Songwriters Project, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Delaware Symphony Orchestra Education Committee, Wilmington, Delaware.
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Sometimes Life is like a
long walk On the sand down by the sea, Though the sand is smooth, There once were footprints That led the way for you and me. Just as yesterday was once tomorrow, Every follower must someday lead. The time has come for us to walk together On the sand down by the sea. I’ll lead the way so you can follow, I’ll lead the way, walk by the sea. Lead with your soul, And your heart will follow, Take my hand, I’ll lead the way. Someday a child will look up to you Full of questions in his eyes, Time will stop And you will tell him, “Take my hand, I’ll lead the way.” |
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I’ve made mistakes and
I’ve made fortunes, I’ve made assumptions, some that I regret. But these days that we walked together Will be the Times that I call the best. So if someday the waves should come and take my footprints, Should you ever lose this melody, Go to the sand, down by the ocean, Close your eyes and know it’s me. I’ll lead the way so you can follow, I’ll lead the way, walk by the sea. Lead with your soul, And your heart will follow, Take my hand, I’ll lead the way. |
Here is a .pdf from the Wilmington News Journal that covered a songwriting workshop that I conducted at the University of Delaware in 2009.
| finding_a_voice_via_song__news_journal__3_.pdf |
I've received a few questions about the equipment I use in the studio. Here's a thumbnail description:
Guitars Martin DR Martin Custom X twelve-string Godin Spectrum Godin ACS-SA Nylon Godin Summit Classic Godin Radiator Fender Richie Kotzen Telecaster Brown Sunburst Fender Acoustisonic Jazzmaster Squier Paranormal Jazzmaster XII 12-String Electric Squier J Mascis Signature Jazzmaster Squier Contemporary Active Starcaster Squier Jaguar Alverez ABT610ESHB Baritone Acoustic-Electric Guitar Shadow Burst Yamaha PAC212V Quilted Maple Top Caramel Ibanez Artcore AF75 Ibanez Prestige AZ2204N Sigma SDM-18 Mitchell Classical LC-200 D’Angelico Premier SS D’Angelico Excel EXL-1 D'Angelico Premier Gramercy CS Cutaway Orchestra Epiphone ES-335 Blueberry Burst ESP LTD EC-1000 Piezo QM STB × 1 PRS SE DGT Moons Electric Guitar Gold Top PRS SE NF3 All luthier work done by Nick Bucci at Bucci Guitars Basses '61 Fender Jazz (w/active EMGs) '75 Fender Fretless, stock Carlo Robelli acoustic/electric bass guitar Ibanez BTB765-DEL Standard 5-String Juzek double bass (probably built in the '30s) with Fishman transducers 
Recording
ProTools 12 / ProSonus Studio 821 Reason 10 PreSonus Blue Tube DP Pre-amp Mackie CFX12MKII Mixer Yamaha MG10XU Mixer TC-Helicon VoiceTone Harmony-G XT Alesis Mini-Verb Asus Essentio CM5675 Desktop / Seagate HD Nord NT-1A microphones Shure SM58 microphones SansAmp Para Driver DI Audio-Technica ATH-910 Pro and ATH-M40fs headphones |
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