For the first time in more than 30 years, the Tinora High School Band has earned a Superior “1” rating at State Contest, a milestone moment for the students, director, alumni, and the entire Tinora community.
But beyond the score sheet and recognition, this achievement represents hard work, friendships, and a belief that something special can happen in a small rural school when students come together with a common goal.
Band Director David Middleton said the moment the students saw the “1” on the sheet is something he will never forget.
“I hope years from now my students remember two things,” Middleton said. “First, the relationships they gained from working on this goal and working on the music, and second, how it felt when they saw the one on the sheet. I have never seen students as excited as that.”
That excitement came after months of preparation. Students transitioned from marching band season into Christmas performances, Solo and Ensemble, and finally contest season. According to Middleton, preparing for State Contest was about a three-month process filled with long rehearsals, refining musical details, and learning what it truly means to perform at a superior level.
“Playing the notes and rhythms beautifully is one thing,” Middleton explained, “but the judges at contest are looking at much more. We have to make sure it’s played perfectly. It takes a lot of work and a lot of effort.”
Middleton described his students as “a goofy, colorful bunch” who also know how to work hard together when it matters most.
That balance is exactly what makes the Tinora band program so special.
“The thing I’m most proud of is I have tons of different types of students in my band room,” Middleton said. “I have athletic students, I have your typical nerdy kid, I have quiet students, I have loud students, and students interested in many different things. They all get along and work together to do something awesome. They put their differences aside at the door and work together. That’s the thing I’m most proud of.”
For many students, band becomes much more than music. It becomes a place to belong.
Freshman Sophia Keck shared why she believes younger students should join band.
“You should join band for not only playing your instrument, but the people you will meet. You’ll meet some of the best people you will know in band.”
Freshman Miranda Stuckey reflected on the last Tinora band students who earned a 1 rating at State more than three decades ago.
“Thank you for showing that Tinora band can do it and that we can strive for more.”
For Middleton, the accomplishment also served as validation for the work happening every day inside the Tinora music program.
“The biggest thing for me as a director is validating what we have going on musically here at little Tinora,” he said. “It’s easy to dismiss small rural schools as not as important or not as big as larger schools. This was an affirmation that professionals recognized what our students are doing here as superior.”
The success of the program is also beginning to inspire younger students. Middleton has already seen growth in participation at the middle school level, including 36 students currently enrolled in the sixth-grade band.
As the program continues to grow, Middleton credits the Tinora community for standing behind the students every step of the way.
“To the community members who supported the students and me, I can’t thank you enough,” Middleton said. “It means a lot to the students that not only do they hear about the support, but they also see the support. The students see the impact from years past, from alumni, and they can see what their future might look like.”
For these students, this was about more than earning a 1 rating. It was about the friendships, the hard work, and proving what Tinora Band is capable of.
And after more than 30 years, the Tinora Band has once again shown the state exactly what it is capable of.