After years of struggling to find its rhythm, the music program in Mathews schools is on the upbeat.

The program in both Mathews High School and Thomas Hunter Middle School has been on an “upward spiral,” according to Michael Loveless, band director at THMS.

The band students have been working hard, walking away with numerous awards since the start of the school year. At the Menchville Monarch Invitational, the students came in second place for color guard, second place in marching, and third place overall among Class 1A schools.

The students also traveled to the Urbanna Oyster Festival Parade and brought home a third place in marching. The band was successful at all of these competitions, even though this was their first competitive season in 15 years.

Tim Fary, who became the band director at MHS in January of this year, and Loveless have been collaborating together to strengthen the Mathews music program. Loveless said that one of his goals is “to get a third ...