Students at Shelburne start band in 6th grade. The students are split into four different classes. When the students are in 7th grade, we combine these four classes down to just two, a woodwind/percussion class and a brass class. Finally, in 8th grade, every member of the band is in the same class period. All classes meet daily for 45 minutes.
Each grade level has a unique performance opportunity every year. The 6th graders present a Recruitment Concert for all 5th grade students, performing full-ensemble symphonic works and pop songs in solos or small groups. The 7th grade band travels to JMU to perform a concert for the music education studio and receive expert feedback before assessment. The 8th grade participates in the Kings Dominion Festival of Music in Doswell, VA.
We offer several extracurricular opportunities for our students. In the fall, Mr. Nesmith teaches the Woodwind Ensemble, which tours each elementary school playing holiday classics. In the spring, Mr. Wilson leads a Jazz Band open to any instrument, performing at Bridgewater College and Party in the Park!. Each band student also has the opportunity to perform at our annual Band Banquet and Party in the Park! festivals.
In 2023, the Shelburne Middle School band was invited to perform at the 2023 Virginia Music Educator’s Conference in Richmond, Virginia. This was a huge honor, and we were the first concert band from our district to ever be invited to this event!
Charlie Nesmith is a music educator, percussionist, and host of The Flying Baton Podcast. He has been a teacher in Virginia Public Schools for the last 20 years.
Since 2013 he has taught band at Shelburne Middle School in Staunton, Virginia. During his tenure, he has established several noteworthy programs and events that have enriched the school’s music department. These include the Woodwind Ensemble, an extensive free after-school lesson program, and an annual Halloween Concert. Additionally, he has developed a Band Banquet fundraising event, where students showcase their solo and ensemble skills as guests enjoy a meal. For the last 9 years, the Shelburne Middle School Band has participated in both the VBODA concert band assessment and the Kings Dominion Festival of Music, where they have received consistent superior ratings. In 2023, Shelburne Middle School was a featured performer at the Virginia Music Educator’s Conference in Richmond, Virginia.
In recent years, Charlie has been invited to guest conduct several honor bands around the state. He particularly enjoys cultivating community quickly with young musicians, and motivating them to perform to their highest level. He enjoys an active adjudication schedule for both the marching arts and concert band assessments.
Furthermore, he enjoys many performance opportunities outside the classroom, as they enhance his work as an educator. He served as the Principal Percussionist with the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Peter Wilson for 10 years. He is a founding member of the Valley Wind Ensemble, located in Harrisonburg, VA. He also marched in the 2004 Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps under the direction of Lee Beddis, Steven Ballard, and Drew Schneiders.
Charlie received a bachelors of Music Education with a minor in Mathematics from Radford University in 2006, and in 2022 he completed a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from James Madison University.
Charlie resides in Staunton with his wife of 19 years and their exuberant six-year-old. When not teaching or performing, Charlie enjoys PC gaming, Rollerblading, and biking around Staunton with his family.
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Kevin Chiang is entering his first year as the Choir and Assistant Band Director at Shelburne Middle School, also serving as the Assistant Director for the Staunton High School Storm Marching Band. He has taught in Virginia public schools since 2024.
Prior to working at Shelburne, he served as the Music Teacher at The Nokesville School in Prince William County Public Schools, where he created full grade-level concert opportunities for every student as well as a Music Club that included playing percussion instruments, playing recorders, and singing.
Studying under David Pope, Kevin completed his Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education with a minor in Jazz Studies at James Madison University in 2022. In 2024, he earned his Master of Music in Saxophone from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he studied with Otis Murphy.
Outside of school, Kevin enjoys PC gaming, disc golfing, and keeping up with fantasy football (obviously he enjoys spending time with friends and family too!).