The Chilhowie High School Mighty Warrior Band put an exclamation point to a successful 2016-2017 school year by earning state honor band status. State Honor Band Status is the highest honor Virginia Band Orchestra Association gives to a band program. In order to earn the status of a state honor band, bands must complete the daunting task of earning superior ratings at state marching assessment and concert assessment. The Warrior earned straight one's at state marching assessment at Richlands High School at the end of the marching band season. On Thursday, March 16th, the Warrior Band completed its goal by earning superior ratings at concert assessment which earned them state honor band status.

The Chilhowie High School Band has only earned this status 5 times previously in school history. The last time the band earned the status was in 2003-2004 under legendary director Glen Weller. During Mr. Weller's time, the band was able to earn the status 5 times total. 

Current Band Director, Mr. Green said "This is a special accomplishment for the community, the school, and the students. The students have worked extremely hard and all their hard work paid off. The last time this was accomplished majority of the students were two or three years old and were still in diapers. Heck, I was still in high school. I'm extremely proud of my students. It is an honor to get to teach these students everyday."

Congratulations, Chilhowie High School Mighty Warrior Band Students!

All-State Band Auditions took place at James Madison University on February 25, 2017. Chilhowie High School had three students qualify to audition at the All-State level. Kelly Hutton, Emily Blevins, and Rainni Crutchfield were the students who represented Chilhowie High School. In order to qualify to audition at All-State students had to make a top chair at All-District Auditions. Emily Blevins made 2nd Chair Clarinet, Kelly Hutton made 3rd Chair Clarinet, and Rainni Crutchfield made 1st Chair Bass Clarinet, which qualified them to audition at All-State.

Getting to audition is an honor in it self because these students had to beat some of the most outstanding musicians in Southwest Virginia to qualify. All three students worked hard and performed well at the All-State level. Rainni Crutchfield was the closest to making the All-State Band and was just one chair from making the ensemble. She improved 17 chairs from the previous year. Congratulation ladies on an outstanding accomplishment! Keep up the hard work!

The All-District Band event took place on February 4th, 2017 at the Higher Ed Center in Abingdon, Virginia. The event brought together the best high school musician in Southwest Virginia. This was a two-day event in which students worked various pieces of music and performed a concert on Saturday evening.

This year, the Chilhowie High School Mighty Warrior Band more than doubled the number of students who made All-District from the previous year. The Chilhowie Band program had students represented in all four All-District ensembles. In order to participate in the All-District Band event, the student had to audition at John S. Battle High School in December. The students were asked to perform two scales, chromatic scale, and had to sight read. Students are then ranked and only the very best get into the event. 

The following CHS students made the All-District Bands this year: Tabatha Gentry, Julianna Blevins, Emily Blevins, Kelly Hutton, Emma Morris, Rainni Crutchfield, Kelly Wyatt, Amber Blevins, Hannah Wilkerson, Brandi May, Kaitlin Taylor, Emily Frye, Avery Smith, and Tim Hall. Congratulations!

Over the past couple of weeks, Chilhowie High School bands students have been participating in two honor band events. The two honor bands Chilhowie High School band students participated in were Virginia Tech Honor Band and ETSU Honor Band. Both events combine some of the most outstanding high school musicians in Virginia and Tennessee. 

Students are selected based off of musical proficiency and academic standing. The students go to that college campus and audition in front of music professors at the University for placement within an ensemble. Once students find out their placement, they then work several days on music and put on a concert. Chilhowie High School had students represented in all honor band ensembles at Virginia Tech and ETSU.  The students performed outstanding concerts in both honor band events.

The students that participated in Virginia Tech Honor Bands were Kelly Hutton, Amber Blevins, Emily Blevins, Rainni Crutchfield, Tim Hall, and Alec Roberts. The students that participated in ETSU Honor Bands were Amber Blevins, Emily Blevins, Kelly Hutton, and Tim Hall! Congratulations and outstanding job! 

​On Saturday afternoon, January 14, 2017, top band students from all Smyth County Middle and High Schools joined to perform a free concert for parents and community members.  Band directors,  J.J. Green with Chilhowie Middle/High, Brandon Guffey with Marion Middle/Senior High, and Matthew Warnock with Northwood Middle/High, collaborated to build an enriching experience for middle and high schools band students as well as provide the opportunity for students to practice instrumental music with distinguished music educators from around the region. Students began rehearsing for the community concert on Friday, January 13, 2017 and continued with rehearsals Saturday morning.  

The Middle school bands in 7th and 8th grades worked with Mr. Hunter Mullins, the current band director at John Sevier Middle School in Kingsport, Tennessee.  He is also an active performer as a trombonist in the Johnson City Orchestra as well as other regional ensembles.  The High school band worked with Mr. Uley Daniels.  Mr. Daniels is currently the assistant band director at E.B. Stanley Middle School in Abingdon, Virginia.  With numerous prestigious recognitions involving the Cavalier band during his thirty years at Holston High School in Damascus, Virginia, he was also recognized as the Virginia Music Educator of the year in 2015.  As guests to Smyth County, both clinicians spoke highly of the young musicians of Smyth County and were very complimentary of the work being accomplished in the band programs in all of the schools.  

These students spend a lot of their personal time practicing and in private lessons to both better themselves as musicians and to contribute to the overall sound of their respective bands.  Once reaching the high school level, these students give up time during their summers, after school, and weekends either rehearsing or performing as they exhibit their appreciation of music through hard work and dedication.

Avery Smith is a senior band member. Avery is not only a talented trombone player but also an outstanding tenor in choir. Apparently, he has an ability to write plays as well. He just won the playwrighting festival at the Barter. Check out this outstanding article the Bristol Herald Courier wrote about Avery.

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On December 4, 2016, the Chilhowie Mighty Warrior Middle and High School Bands performed a Christmas concert for the community to celebrate the season. The students realized how much their hard work has paid off with many prestigious recognitions from around the region. Under the direction of Mr. J.J. Green, the Mighty Warrior Bands are looking forward to what is to come.  

Thus far in the 2016-2017 school year, Chilhowie Mighty Warrior Bands have earned successful scores, while many individuals have earned recognition as well.  The Mighty Marching Warriors ended the marching season with a Superior Rating (highest possible rating) at the State Marching Band Assessment, which puts them in line for earning the title of Virginia State Honor Band depending on their score at the State Concert Assessment in the Spring of 2017. In addition to this recognition, they also earned the title of Reserved Grand Champions and earning 1st place recognition in areas of Music, Marching, General Effects, Percussion, Drum Major, and Color Guard throughout the season.  

Individual musicians in the band have also gained recognition as some students will be participating in the Virginia Tech Honor Band.  These students are Emily Blevins, Amber Blevins, Kelly Hutton, Rainni Crutchfield, Alec Roberts, and Tim Hall.

On December 10, students competed individually to earn a spot in the All-District Bands where top musicians from around the district join to participate in an extensive music clinic concluding with a concert.  Individuals who made All-District Band include Tabatha Gentry, Emily Blevins, Kelly Hutton, Rainni Crutchfield, Amber Blevins, Avery Smith, Isaiah Hutton, Tim Hall, Brandi May,  Emily Frye, Kaitlyn Taylor, Emma Morris, Kelly Wyatt, and Hannah Wilkerson.  Emily, Kelly, and Rainni scored high markings that will give them the opportunity to audition for All-State band in the upcoming semester.  

The Chilhowie Mighty Warrior Bands would like to extend their appreciation to band families, community members, and businesses for their support.  We would like to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and best wishes for a happy new year!

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The Mighty Warrior Marching Band, under the direction of J.J. Green, has earned recognition around the region with their show Wright to the Moon.  Starting in July, students began working countless hours learning their music and sets. They started  practicing independently, in section rehearsals after school, and on weekends to become better musicians.

Their first performance competition was Music in the Castle where they earned first place Color Guard and third place in Class 2A and were selected as the featured band on the Bristol Herald Courier Article about Music in the Castle.  The students continued to work hard and improve their show over the past two weeks and their hard work paid off.

On Saturday, October 15, 2016, the Mighty Warrior Marching Band traveled to Letcher County to perform in the Letcher County Marching Invitational. The band came home with superior recognitions of just how their hard work and dedication has paid off.  During the 2015 Marching season, the Mighty Warrior Marching band earned the title of Grand Champions at the Letcher County Marching Invitational. This year, out of fourteen bands, they returned as Reserved Grand Champions. In their class, they earned first place ranking in Drum Major, Percussion, Color Guard, Music, Marching, General Effects, and Class.  

In this up and coming weekend, The Mighty Warrior Band will perform in two competitions.  State Marching Assessment in Richlands, Virginia where the band hopes to earn a Superior Rating and a shot at being recognized as a Virginia Honor Band. The second competition of the day will be at the Tazewell Marching Invitational at Tazewell High School.  Please come and show your support as these young musicians showcase their continued progress and appreciation for music.  ​

Band Camp week equals hard at work. The Chilhowie Mighty Warrior Band did just that. They had an outstanding week. Mr. Green was pleased with the progress they made from day one to day five. The band students were able to improve their fundmentals, set drill for the first two songs, and put music to their new drill. 

Mr. Green stated "I'm excited about what the season might hold for us!" He's talking about the competition season. Band camp week is the week in which the program sets most of its show and creates the foundation for the season ahead. The students have pushed hard and their hard work is really going to pay off. 

The students not only had to overcome the heat and hard work, but also had to adjust to having a new director. Mr. Green said he was impressed in how they didn't skip a beat! He also contributed the success of the week to the Senior Band Members and Leadership. Without the strong leadership, the camp wouldn't have been nearly as successful. One band member stated "This is the most we have ever gotten done at camp!"

Check out the Warrior Band during the football season! We know you're going to be impressed!