CONGRATULATIONS BUFORD BAND

29-44

The Buford Middle School Band Program reached another major milestone
on Saturday March 3 at the Virginia Band Directors' Association Concert
Band Assessment at Charlottesville High School. The school entered two
bands to perform for assessment and ratings and, for the 29th year, they
earned straight superior ratings.

Each band selected music graded by the State Music Association--Level 1
being the easiest and Level 6 being the most difficult. The Buford
Concert Band 2 performed in the Grade 3 level of music, a level
consistent with most middle school music programs in Virginia. The Band
received straight Superiorratings from the panel of four judges. The
Buford Concert Band 1 performed in the Grade 4 level of music, which is
consistent with High School level music programs. The Band received
straight Superior ratings from the panel of judges.

Since 1984, this marks the 29th consecutive year that the Buford Band
program has achieved a Superior rating at the District Level Assessment.
Starting with the 1984 Concert Band’s Superior performance, 44 Bands
from Buford have entered into the District Concert Band Assessment and
all have achieved a Superior Rating. Very few programs, at the local,
state and national level have been able to perform at a Superior level
with this much consistency. The Buford Middle School Band program has
been under the direction of Mr. Joseph V. Tornello for the past 32
years.

The Buford Middle School Band Department has been under the direction of Mr. Joseph V. Tornello since 1979. Mr. Tornello is a graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester, Virginia.

Over the past 33 years, the band department has offered such performing ensembles as Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, and various small ensembles. Since 1980 the concert program has participated in the annual Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors District Festival, performing music in the grade 3 and 4 levels. The Band Department has achieved only superior ratings at the District level,for 29 consecutive years. The band program has also received a total of 44HHconsecutive superior ratings at the District level, which includes superior ratings to performing groups such as Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band. In 1988, after gaining its' fifth consecutive superior rating, the band first used its motto of a Superior Tradition. It has become a tradition that all those involved with the program try to achieve a superior level.