ABOUT THE LANGLEY HIGH SCHOOL BANDS
Under the leadership of Director of Bands Doug Martin, the Langley High School band program has quickly earned a place among the most elite programs in Virginia, and is recognized as a Virginia State Honor Band.
Under Mr. Martin's baton, enrollment in the Langley band program has more than doubled, and each year brings new accolades and firsts to the program.
From the Marching Saxons' first uniforms and competition in school history in 2015, to their inaugural first place competition award in 2016, and to their first all-Superior rating in 2018; from the creation of a third concert ensemble in 2016, to the Wind Symphony's stirring and critically acclaimed performances at the Music for All National Festival and VMEA Conference in 2017; and from well-received concert tours in Spain (2014), Italy (2018) and Carnegie Hall (2019), the Langley band program has come a long way in a very short time!
A Virginia Honor Band ... For the first time in Langley history, all three of the band program's concert ensembles earned Superior ratings at their assessment performances in 2019.
This is particularly impressive because each ensemble (the Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony) performed very challenging music at a high grade level. Congratulations, Saxons, for your Superior performances on very challenging pieces!
Also for the first time, the Marching Saxons received a straight Superior rating (i.e., from all seven judges) in its assessment performance in the fall of 2018. The combined achievements of the Marching Saxons and all three concert ensembles led to the designation of the Langley High School Band Program as a Virginia Honor Band.
This designation is the highest honor that can be bestowed by the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association. Congratulations to the Langley Band Program!
