The Trojan Band has participated in many performances this school year like a band member participating in All District Assessments, the Tunstall Concert Ensemble traveling to Atlanta and Ohio, Spring Concert, Tidewater Classic, and the Liberty University competition.
Malik Thornton is the director for the THS band. He graduated from Longwood University with a Bachelor of Music Degree. He has been teaching band for two years and has served at Tunstall the same amount of time.
“These events are very important because they reflect our growth, discipline, and commitment as a band. They also represent our school and community, and give us valuable feedback to continue improving,” stated Mr. Thornton.
The Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association (VBODA) State District Assessment is a strict and selective program that gives THS band members the opportunity to showcase their hard work and receive feedback from a panel of judges.
Sophomore Eduardo Sosa Reyes was the only THS student to be accepted into VBODA. He has been in band since sixth grade. He played the trumpet until eighth grade and then he switched to alto saxophone. “I auditioned for alto saxophone and managed to get in,” stated Sosa Reyes. This will be his first time he gets to do All District since switching instruments.
Sophomore My’Ja Pacheco plays the clarinet and has been involved in band since sixth grade. To prepare for VBODA auditions, she said they were given an etude- a sheet of music that helps players get a wide variety of practice like speed and chords- to practice “all [their] scales and chromatic scale”.
THS percussionists traveled to Atlanta on April 20-22 and to Ohio April 14-19. Junior Jamel Claiborne has been in band for four years and participated in the Tunstall Concert Ensemble (TCE). They perform the same music in TCE as symphonic or marching band except without the horns: trumpets, saxophones, clarinets, etc. The first score they receive is a rough draft score and then they determine what needs to be changed.
The Spring Concert took place on April 3, 2026. It is a show with a little bit of everything: winter guard, sixth grade beginning band, THS high school symphonic band, and TCE. The three pieces they played were “Aces of the Sky”, “Me Reaffirmation”, and “La Madre de Los Gatos”. “Each one is a different style to showcase different kinds of skills within the band,” stated junior Kathryn Roach.
Two popular favorites for the band members were the Tidewater Classic at Virginia Beach held on October 11, 2025, and the competition held at Liberty University on October 25, 2025. There, they performed their show Childlike with traditional kids songs: “Bluey Theme Song”, “Twinkle Star”, “Jesus Loves Me”, “When She Loved Me”, “Dance of Jesters”, “Hot Cross Buns”, and “Symphony No.2”.
Sophomore Ja’Liah Pacheco plays the bass clarinet and has been a part of band for four years. Her favorite trip this year was the Tidewater Classic at Virginia Beach “because [she] had a lot of food and it was also a new environment.” Claiborne also agreed that this was his favorite competition “because that was a pretty cool learning experience.”
Junior Tyler Martin, drum major, and Junior Dakota Goodson, assistant drum major, have both been in band for five years. Their favorite place that they traveled to for this year’s competition is Liberty University because of “seeing all the bands perform, being on a giant field, and being on a college campus.”
Mr. Thornton’s goals for the band “extend far beyond performances and awards”, but that has not stopped them from various winning accolades: first place finishes in Music, Visual, General Effect, and Percussion for the Marching Band; Excellence rating for the Symphonic Band; high levels of excellence for the Percussion Ensemble; TCE scored 84 in Ohio.
“While we are proud of these accomplishments, what matters most is the dedication, growth, and commitment our students display every day. These awards are simply a reflection of their hard work and passion for music,” stated Mr. Thornton.
