South Lakes High School Music Programs Support
School Redistricting
By David K. Tiller
Thank you ladies and gentlemen of the Fairfax County School
Board for this opportunity to speak in support of the
redistricting plan and the music programs at South Lakes
High School. I am David Tiller, president of the South
Lakes High School Band Boosters and a parent of two band
students -- a senior at South Lakes High School and an
eighth grader at Langston Hughes Middle School.
Fairfax County has a long tradition of excellent music
programs, and South Lakes High School is certainly an
example of that excellence. Many elements contribute to
these quality programs: dedicated teachers, motivated
students, and supportive administrators. Mr. Grayson Fore
has provided consistent leadership of the band program for
the past nine years. Each year he has prepared marching
bands, concert bands, jazz bands, theater pit orchestras,
and percussion ensembles for multiple appearances in
Reston, such as concerts and holiday parades, in addition
to road tours. Recently the South Lakes Wind Ensemble has
been selected to play on the concert stage at the Kennedy
Center for the Performing Arts, and the National Concert
Band Festival in Indianapolis, the equivalent of a national
tournament in sports, except that the element of
competition is refocused into sharpening musical
performance.
The band students win many first place trophies each year
for marching, concert, jazz, theater, sectional, and
individual categories. They inspire elementary and middle
school students by coaching in programs such as the Area
Honor Band as well as individual mentoring. Some South
Lakes graduates have chosen to continue their musical
studies at George Mason, James Madison, Shenandoah,
Virginia Tech, Julliard, Eastman School of Music, and New
England Conservatory. Even more important, students who
haven’t chosen music as a career have elected to continue
their music at University of Virginia, William & Mary,
MIT, Princeton, Yale, or wherever they study after high
school. Their positive learning experience at South Lakes
High School has convinced them that the skills developed in
studying music are essential to mathematics, writing, and
the learning process in general.
The administrators at South Lakes High School also
recognize the importance of a strong music program.
Northern Virginia is a diverse community and administrators
in Reston schools ensure that music is available to any
student who wants to participate, regardless of cost to the
student or family. South Lakes High School offers a
two-year music theory program, which is available whether
or not a student is part of the International Baccalaureate
curriculum. As far as I know, it is the only such program
in Fairfax County schools. Our administration also supports
a strong community partnership, including hosting the East
Coast A Cappella Summit, performance opportunities with the
Reston Community Orchestra and the Fairfax Symphony, and
connections with local businesses. With a newly renovated
facility, larger rehearsal rooms, and an acoustically
improved theater, all the music programs – choir,
orchestra, musical theater, and the bands – have the
potential to grow and improve.
Now is a good time for the Fairfax County School Board to
be studying equitable educational opportunities for all
county students, and those of us who support the music
programs at South Lakes High School support this process.
We urge you to give the maximum number of students the
opportunity to take advantage of an excellent and growing
music education program at South Lakes High School.