You’d have to go all the way back to 1989 to find the last time that a Mathews High School student made it all the way to All-State Band.
This past weekend, Mathews had not just one, but three students representing the small school at the 2023 All-Virginia Band, Chorus and Orchestra at the Greater Richmond Convention Center.
Aiden Sowers and Bradyn Barr were part of the 2023 All-Virginia Symphonic Band—Sowers was first chair harpist, and Barr was the band’s second chair tuba; while Luke Lewis played third chair clarinet in the All-Virginia Concert Band.
The three Mathews students spent an intensive 16 hours rehearsing over three days with the top high school musicians in the state before giving a concert on Saturday afternoon. All told, about 700 musicians in three classes of band (Concert, Symphonic and Orchestra) and three classes of chorus took part in the program.
In addition to playing alongside some of the most talented musicians in the state, Sowers, Barr and Lewis had the chanc...