It is a commonly held belief that high school marching bands only perform at football games and take part in hometown Christmas or Independence Day parade.
For Honaker High School’s band, that belief is certainly not reality. Director Shawn Matney said the HHS band has created a tradition of service, excellence and community pride, while performing over 40 times throughout the year.
“While many people recognize the Honaker High School Band for its halftime performances and marching competitions, the program’s impact extends far beyond the football field,” Matney stated. “Throughout the 2025–2026 school year, the band has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to musical excellence, student development, and community service, making it one of the most active student organizations in Russell County.”
Serving an average of 63 student musicians annually, the program provides music education to students from both Honaker High School and Honaker Elementary School. This year’s enrollment included 22 high school band members, 18 seventh-grade students, and 23 sixth-grade students, creating a streamlined pathway for future musicians and leaders.
“The Honaker High School Band remained a constant presence during the football season, performing at 13 varsity football games,” Matney said. “Whether facing rain, cold temperatures, or sunshine, the band faithfully supported the Tigers and energized fans from the opening kickoff through the final whistle.”
The band’s commitment to excellence has produced numerous awards. Among the year’s highlights were:
Lonesome Pine Band Festival at Wise Central High School
1st Place Drum Major
1st Place Color Guard
George Wythe Band Festival
1st Place Percussion
McChesney Band Festival at Big Stone Gap
1st Place in all categories for Class A-1 bands
Drum Major
Percussion
Color Guard
Music
Marching
General Effect
Class A-1 Band
Rating: Superior at the McChesney Band Festival in Big Stone Gap. A superior rating is the highest achievement for high school bands in competition. This hasn’t been achieved in 18 years for the Honaker Tigers Marching Band.
Big Blue Classic Band Festival at Richlands High School
1st Place Drum Major
1st Place Percussion **with a score of 89 (out of 100), our percussion earned the third highest score among 23 other bands, including some AAA and AAAA bands. This is the highest score on record for any Honaker High School drumlines of the past.
1st Place Marching
The band earned the prestigious George Brown Audience Choice Award
The band’s success continued during concert season when members traveled to Williamsburg for a statewide concert band competition. There, the ensemble earned a Superior Rating, was awarded Best in Class, and received the highest adjudicated concert band score in recent memory, with a score of 87, marking another milestone for the program.
In addition to these group accomplishments, three students were recognized for their contributions to the performance. Makenzie Dingus, a 2026 graduate of Honaker High School was awarded Best Clarinet Performance for the day; Charlie Shelton, an upcoming Sophomore was awarded Best Saxophone Performance for the day, and Bentley Mitchell, an upcoming Sophomore, was awarded Best Tuba Performance for the day.
“Throughout the year, Honaker musicians proudly represented Russell County across Southwest Virginia and Eastern Tennessee through numerous public appearances,” Matney explained.
The band participated in a total of five community parades.
“Band members also spent 12 hours in the month of June to prepare for the Cleveland and Lebanon Independence Day parades,” Matney said.
Perhaps the greatest measure of the band’s success cannot be found on a score sheet.
During the 2025–2026 school year, the Honaker High School Band completed 14 community performances, touching lives throughout the region. Performances included local celebrations, school pep rallies, concerts, and special community events such as Meet the Tigers, the WJHL Friday Morning Kickoff, the Honaker Public Library Summer Reading Program, and a performance in conjunction with some students from the Lebanon High School Band at the grand re-opening of the Lebanon Walmart.
“Some of the year’s most meaningful performances came while serving families during difficult moments,” Matney stated.
Band students visited hospice patients on two separate occasions, performing music that brought comfort during families’ final days with loved ones. One performance included performing “Happy Birthday” in the front lawn of a Honaker resident receiving hospice care, while another featured the wind ensemble performing “Amazing Grace” for a student’s grandmother in her final hours. Both families later shared their sincere appreciation for the students’ kindness during those unforgettable moments.
The band also continued its tradition of honoring America’s veterans by performing at the Honaker High School Veterans Day Ceremony, a special performance during Military Appreciation Night at Fuller Field / EMATs Stadium, and the Marion Memorial Day Parade followed by a performance at VFW Post 4667 also in Marion.
Students later visited Maple Grove Nursing and Rehabilitation Center with members of the Lebanon High School Band, where music once again demonstrated its ability to bring joy and connection across generations. The Honaker Middle School and High School Band Students have been performing at Maple Grove for the past three years as it has proven to be a rewarding experience for both the Maple Grove residents, and the band students.
Members of the International Tri-M Music Honor Society completed an impressive 160 volunteer service hours throughout the year, giving back to schools, community organizations, and local events while demonstrating the leadership expected of student musicians.
Elizabeth Sisk, a 2026 graduate, has led the Honaker Tigers Marching Band on and off the field, and served as the school’s Tri-M Music Honor Society, Chapter 9647 President for the past two years. Sisk initiated and coordinated a winter clothing drive in Fall 2025 titled, “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” as a way to seek donations of winter clothing for those in need. She was able to acquire 10 bags of warm clothing and donated them to local organizations who could distribute them to those in need.
“From football fields and concert halls to nursing homes, hospice facilities, parades, schools, and community celebrations, the Honaker High School Band continues to prove that music is about far more than performance,” Matney said. “Each appearance reflects the program’s mission of developing outstanding musicians while teaching responsibility, compassion, leadership, and service.”
As the band continues to proudly represent Russell County Public Schools throughout Virginia and Eastern Tennessee, one thing remains clear: the Honaker High School Band is not simply a school organization—it is a source of community pride whose impact reaches well beyond the final note.
