After graduation Mr. Hackworth became the Director of Bands for Carpenters Middle School in Maryville, Tennessee. While there Mr. Hackworth helped to grow the program from a little over 100 students across three grades to 212 students, and initiated participation in ETSBOA festivals and clinics.

 

In 2008 Mr. Hackworth took over as Director of Bands at Brookville High School. During his time there he reestablished consistent participation in VBODA concert assessment, all-district band, and hosted the Blue Ridge Festival of Bands Marching Competition. He also began a winter indoor drumline including hosting AIA sanctioned competitions.

 

In 2011 Mr. Hackworth took a position as a Band Graduate Assistant for the University of South Carolina. He has finished his course work, and plans to graduate with a Masters in Music Education in December 2012.

 

Mr. Hackworth has attended several professional development sessions including MFA Summer Symposium, VA Tech Band Directors Institute, and Midwest. His professional affiliations include MENC, VMEA, and VBODA.

 

Previous Directors

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Gaylen Strunce

H. Gaylen Strunce (Director from 1940-41) was the organizer and first director of the Lane High School Band.  He attended Creston Junior College in his hometown of Creston, Iowa, received a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State Teachers College and a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Michigan.  Before coming to Charlottesville in 1940 he was band director at Buchanan, Virginia and Supervisor of Music in Botetourt County.  After one year as director of the Lane Band he entered military service, serving in the 29th Infantry Division Band.  For over 40 years Mr. Strunce was the director of the Handley High School Band in Winchester, VA.,until his retirement.  Mr. Strunce was a past president of the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association.
 

Sharon B Hoose

Sharon B. Hoose, a native of Illinois, received a Bachelor of Music degree and Master of Music Education degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL. He was Director of Music for the public schools of Buffalo, Kansas, one year. Director of Bands at Randolph-Macon Academy and Warren County High School, Front Royal, VA.  five years and was director of the Lane High School Band from 1941 to June 1974.  When Lane High School closed he became full-time Coordinator of Music for the Charlottesville Public Schools until his retirement.Mr. Hoose was a past president of both the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association and the Virginia Music Educators Association.
 

Vincent Tornello

 

Vincent is a product of Oceanside Public Schools, Long Island, New York, a graduate of Oceanside High School with a State University of New York Regents Diploma.  He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music, and a Master of Education degree from the University of Virginia.
 
Vincent began his career as an educator in 1972 at Lane High School in Charlottesville. For two years he directed the marching band, organized and directed the Jazz Ensemble, and served as assistant concert band director. Over the course of the following 37 years, the Charlottesville High School band excelled under his direction until his retirement in 2009. The program earned countless honors and accolades, and proudly holds a number of state concert and marching band records including the Virginia Honor Band Award for 27 years, superior ratings at the grade six music level for 34 of 37 years and 28 consecutive years of state marching assessment superior ratings.
 
He is a past-president of the Virginia Chapter of the National Jazz Educators Association, and a past-president of the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association. Vincent has served as treasurer of the Virginia Music Educators Association for the past 26 years. He is also a member of the National Association for Music Education, Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity. In addition, Vincent has served as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor throughout the east coast and the mid-west. He has served as an adjudicator for the Kentucky, Wisconsin, and South Carolina State Marching Championships, the Virginia State Marching Assessments, the Indiana District and Regional Marching Championships, Bands of America Regional Championships, USBands Regional Championships as well as numerous invitational contests. Vincent has adjudicated many of the district concert assessments throughout Virginia, the Kentucky State Concert Festival and numerous other regional concert festivals. He serves as the adjunct saxophone instructor for the University of Virginia Wind Ensemble.
 
As a professional musician, Vincent has performed for live radio broadcasts as well as studio recording sessions, in addition to numerous other performances in Virginia and the New York metropolitan area.
 
Vincent has been recognized by numerous organizations for his dedication to the fine arts, as well as to the profession of education. His commendations include: 1985-86 Charlottesville Public Schools Distinguished Teacher Award; 1989 VMEA Service to Music Education Award; 1992 VBODA Ten Year Honor Band Director Award; 1994 Who's Who Among America's Teachers; 1994 Arts Award in Music Education from the Piedmont Council of the Arts, Virginia Alliance for Arts Education Distinguished Service Award; 1995-96 VMEA Music Educator of the Year Award, Charlottesville Daily Progress Distinguished Dozen, VFW Meritorious Service Award, VMEA Twenty-five Year Service Award; 1997 National Federation of Interscholastic Music Association Outstanding State Music Educator Award, VBODA Honor Band Director 15-Year Honor Roll List; 1998 NFIMA Section 2 Outstanding Music Educator Award, Shenandoah Conservatory of Music Alumnus of Excellence Award; 1999 American Legion Certificate of Appreciation; 2000 Air Force Association Certificate of Appreciation; 2002 VBODA Honor Band "Hall of Fame;" 2004 National Sousa Foundation "Legion of Honor"; 2006 Marqui’s Who’s Who in America Award; 2008 Virginia Governor’s School Outstanding Educator Award;  2009 was awarded the Key to the City of Charlottesville, VA., received the National Ground Intelligence Center Command Award of Excellence and the Charlottesville H.S. Band Rehearsal Hall named in his honor; and in 2014 VBODA Phil Fuller Service Award. He can be contacted at VJTornello@comcast.net
 
Aisha Leonard, former Charlottesville H.S. Band Director (2009-2010)
 
Dave Gresko, former Charlottesville H.S. Band Director (2010-2012)