VALDOSTA — Valdosta Middle School Band Director Gary Bradley and Assistant Band Director Travis Downs knew it was going to be an exciting 2008-2009 school year when they received the invitation last July to perform at the Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic.

This honor, along with many others, would come the band’s way during the next several months.

The VMS Symphonic Band prepared during the fall months and traveled to the campus of Troy University, Troy, Ala., on Dec. 4-5 for its featured performance.

At the conclusion of the program, Mark Walker, the clinic’s executive director, said, “The directors, students, parents, school, and community should be very proud of this band’s performance. The band performs with such a high degree of musicianship, which is a testament to outstanding instruction and support. We here at Troy University congratulate your fine band on such an outstanding performance.”

Director of Troy University Bands Ralph Ford said, “This may be the best middle school band we’ve ever had to perform for the clinic.”

During the performance, the National Band Association presented Bradley and Downs with the “Citation of Excellence” award for outstanding contribution to bands and band music.

On Dec. 6, VMS band students traveled to Waycross to participate in the Georgia Music Association (GMEA) District Honor and All-State Band Auditions. Thirty students were selected for the District VIII Honor Bands held at Camden County High School in Kingsland, Jan. 23-24.

Three VMS students traveled to the second round of the all-state auditions held in Perry, where percussion student Jared Sirmans was selected as one of the top 12 in the state and chosen to participate in the GMEA All-State Band in Savannah, March 5-7.

The Valdosta Middle School Band students attended the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) District 8 Music Festival held at Ware County Middle School in Waycross on March 12-13.

The GMEA festival is an annual “Large Group Performance Evaluation” where middle and high school bands are judged on state-level criteria and given a rating based on their performance of three musical selections of contrasting styles.

Both the seventh- and eighth-grade bands from VMS were awarded a superior rating and straight A’s in every caption (which denotes an outstanding performance worthy of distinction of being recognized as among the best) from all four judges.

The eighth-grade band performed a higher level of music difficulty than many high school bands perform and received only praise, compliments, and congratulations from all of the adjudicators.

On March 20-22, the VMS Bands traveled to Orlando, Fla., to compete in the All Star Music Festival.

Other performing groups in attendance for the festival traveled from as far away as Texas, Tennessee, Kansas, and Maryland. The judges were Keith Galasso, director of Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Magnet School; Dr. John Thomasson, Florida Southern College; Ron Ellis, University of Central Florida; Michael Davis, retired music director of Walt Disney World.

The seventh-grade band was awarded superior ratings from the judges and took first place in the AA class and the eighth-grade band also made superior ratings, taking first place in the AAA class.

All of the judges were impressed with the high level of professionalism displayed by the students on stage and the high quality of literature performed by each group.

The VMS Jazz Band and the VMS Percussion Ensemble both received straight superior ratings and both were awarded first place in each of their respective classes. Jazz Band soloists Kreshon McDowell and Chaker Fares, and eighth-grade Concert Band soloists Kitra Cates and Takiya Jackson were recognized as outstanding instrumental soloist for the festival.

Following the festival, all of the band members, staff, and chaperones enjoyed two days at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure Theme Parks with the award ceremony inside the park.

In April, VMS band students participated in the GMEA Solo and Ensemble Festival. Students were awarded more that 100 superior medals for solo, duet, and trio performances. The Percussion Ensemble and the Jazz Ensemble once again garnered superior ratings from the judges during this event.

The sixth-grade Beginning Band participated in the Wild Adventures Classic on May 1. These first-year band students received superior ratings and a score of 96 from a possible 100 points for their performance.

The students spent the rest of the day enjoying the rides at Wild Adventure Park.

The VMS Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Travis Downs, recently received the prestigious invitation to perform at the 63rd Annual Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, on Dec. 18. Dr. Joe Brashier, director of bands at Valdosta State University, said, “the selection process for this event is the most highly competitive and demanding of any conference in the field of middle/high school instrumental music.”

More than 15,000 composers, public school music educators, administrators, professional musicians, military musicians and conductors, university teachers and students and booster representatives attend the Midwest Clinic each year.

As the school year closes and summer begins, Valdosta Middle School Band directors and students are already anticipating next year’s activities. Percussion Ensemble students are very excited and have begun preparation for the trip to Chicago, by attending scheduled summer rehearsals and lessons to improve their musical skills.

To learn more about this trip and how members of the community can help these students with travel expenses, please call the VMS band room at (229) 333-8562. Donations can be mailed to Valdosta Middle School Band, 110 Burton Ave., Valdosta, Ga. 31602.