Rancho Cordovan of the Year

Kevin Sims

When the Friday Night lights glimmer over the field at Cordova Stadium, the thumping of drums and blaring of brass signals a special moment in the life of Cordova High students.

When the strings sing and the cellos hum in harmony from a beautiful stage, another memory is being made.

When the sun warms the asphalt of a Coloma Road lined with thousands of flag-waving Rancho Cordovans, a community celebration is about to commence.

When the crowds part on Disneyland’s Main Street to allow a marching band to pass, a surge of civic pride is enjoyed across the City of Rancho Cordova.

While thousands of people are involved in all of these flashes of Rancho Cordova community life, there is one constant -- and that is Kevin Sims.

Kevin has influenced a generation of Rancho Cordova students as Music Director at Cordova High School. For the past 30 years, under his leadership, the school’s music program has offered a diverse array of ensembles, including the Marching Band, Concert Band, String Orchestra, Jazz Band, Color Guard and Drumline. For many students, it has offered much more – a place to belong, grow and be healthy.

Under Kevin’s leadership the school’s music programs have achieved significant recognition, winning over 30 trophies. But beyond these accolades, the primary goal is to instill discipline, responsibility, and a passion for excellence in students.

Kevin’s musical minions breathe extra life into a Friday night football game at Cordova High, where the Big Red Marching Band entertains during the pregame, and marches during half-time field performances.

When the Lancers score a touchdown, the band erupts into the school song. And the game is not over until the band plays the moving Alma Mater.

Kevin and the marching band hit the road during marching band competition season, matching their skills against other high schools across Northern California.

A highlight of band life is when Kevin packs his charges into buses and heads to Disneyland, where he leads the band and Color Guard in parades down Main Street USA, performing to audiences from around the world. Only 60 percent of bands which apply for this extraordinary experience are chosen; but Kevin’s bands have never failed the test and have been making the trip since 1998, boosting Lancer and Rancho Cordova civic pride each time.

When it is time to settle into concert formation, the Concert Band and String Orchestra from Cordova High are also under the direction of the remarkable Mr. Sims, for standing room only performances.

You might catch the Cordova High School Drumline exciting the audience at the Rancho Cordova Sports Hall of Fame or firing up the volunteers at the City of Rancho Cordova’s kick-off to Spring Service Day. They have led off the State of the City and the 20th Anniversary of the City, all the while teaching the students that they are not only part of Cordova High, but their city, as well.

But that’s not all.

When the Rancho Cordova Fourth of July was looking to energize and supercharge the Fourth of July parade, organizers tapped Kevin to take over management of this beloved Rancho Cordova tradition. He has used his many connections to entice up to 10 high school bands each year from around the region to spend their Fourth of July morning marching in the Rancho Cordova parade, helping make it the most musical of all parades in the region.

Kevin is a devoted husband to Laura, and loving dad to daughters Meegan and Taryn, and son Daniel.

But Kevin is also the father of music to thousands of Rancho Cordova students whose lives he has helped shape over three decades – an impact so large it is impossible to measure.

Kevin is an exceptional example of a Rancho Cordovan whose community dedication truly adds up to a lifetime achievement. Kevin may not have imagined his passion for music would eventually turn into a career, and then a labor of love which transforms his community -- but it has.

Is he our Professor Howard Hill of Music Man fame? Or Glenn Holland of Mr. Holland’s Opus? He’s probably a little of each. But one thing is for certain: He’s our 2025 Rancho Cordovan of the Year and we could not be prouder.