Prince William County Public Schools

Dennis Brown, orchestra teacher at C.D. Hylton High School, has been inducted into the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association (VBODA) Hall of Fame. The VBODA Hall of Fame gives recognition for exceptional support, inspiration, and outstanding contributions to the growth and development of instrumental music education in the Commonwealth of Virginia. To be inducted into the VBODA Hall of Fame, the individual must have a minimum of 25 years of teaching instrumental music, with at least 20 years teaching in Virginia.

Brown has been teaching music for 47 years. He started his career in Stafford County Public Schools in 1973, teaching both band and orchestra. He came to Prince William County in 1988 as the assistant band director at Gar-Field High School. In 1991, Brown became the first band director at Hylton High School. He retired from full-time teaching in 2009 but remained at Hylton teaching orchestra as a part-time teacher.

Brown said of this honor, "The Hall of Fame Award means a lot to me because it means my peers over the many years of teaching respected my hard work and dedication. However, at the same time I am very humbled by it because I only saw myself as one of many teachers who showed up to school every day to work hard and do their absolute best."