The 2024-2025 school year has been particularly notable for the Mighty Titan Marching Band, who were named and all Virginia Honors Band as well as having remarkable performances and experiences. The honor band award represents the group earning a superior rating (the highest level you can receive) in marching and symphonic band.

The group began their marching band season at band camp at Ferrum college. At the camp, and the weeks following, the group, led by Drum Major Aliza Harner, learned their routine which was themed “Kaleidoscope” with all the songs including references to colors such as Mr. Blue Sky Jeff Lynne and Paint It, Black by the Rolling Stones. Mr. Galyen, the band director at Hidden Valley shared that part of their success was due to the show including a “good variety of tunes.”

The most important superior rating was in the marching band performance, as it was the only one out of the three holding the group back from the honor band title in years prior. This first superior rating, announced at the VBODA District Assessment marching band assessment, was an extremely notable moment for the band. Senior Claire Sublett shared that in the moment where the long-awaited announcement informing them of the superior rating came out, she felt “insane excitement” and “relief because [they] hadn’t gotten that [rating] since 2007.”

The next step to the title of all Virginia Honors Band was to receive a superior rating once again for symphonic band competition held at Blacksburg High School. Fellow senior Noah Matamoros shared that his favorite song in this performance was Dances Americanesque by William Owens which “was in three movements” with his favorite being the final part called gallop due to its “fast pace, syncopation, and complex rhythms.”

For most members of the band, the bond within the band is the most important part of the experience. It is extremely evident that Galyen wants the group’s members to come out of high school with so much more than just an ability to play their instrument.

“As nice as it is to get an award like honor band, I would rather kids just love music and play their instrument,” said Galyen.