STAUNTON, VA (Rocktown Now) — Staunton City Schools is celebrating a successful spring for its student musicians and educators after band and choir programs across the division earned top marks at statewide performance assessments.

Students from Staunton High School and Shelburne Middle School received superior ratings, the highest possible distinction, at the Virginia Band & Orchestra Directors’ Association Concert Performance Assessment.

According to Shelburne band director Charlie Nesmith, both 7th and 8th grade bands will receive VBODA Virginia Honor Band status after also having strong representation at the All-District Band event.

“This award has only been available to middle schools for the past two years, and Shelburne has received it both years,” Nesmith said.

Shelburne students also reached new milestones in performance difficulty. The 7th-grade band performed a Grade III piece at the assessment, a first for a 7th-grade ensemble in the district, while the 8th-grade band performed a Grade IV selection, a level that exceeded the repertoire presented by many high school groups at the event.

At the high school level, the Staunton High School Symphonic Band also made history during the 2026 assessment. The ensemble became the first band in Virginia to perform Heart on Fire by composer Viet Cuong, a Grade V work commissioned by the College Band Directors National Association.

Band director Jon Wilson said the group earned a perfect score in every caption and category from all adjudicators.

SHS’s choir program also added to the school’s success, receiving a superior rating at its March choral assessment. The Chamber Singers set a new school record by performing at the highest possible difficulty level in Virginia.

Because both the school’s top band and choir ensembles earned superior ratings, Staunton High School will be recognized as a Blue Ribbon School for Music by the Virginia Music Educators Association.

The award is given only to schools whose leading ensembles achieve the highest level of performance. It marks just the second time in school history the honor has been awarded, and the first time under the Staunton High School name.

“This recognition reflects the daily commitment our students and music educators make to their craft,” Superintendent Dr. Eric Irizarry said. “They show up ready to work, support one another and take pride in representing our schools.”