| News Press Releases Idaho Press Tribune, by: Jon Meyer, October 21, 2007 Local bands corral honors BOISE — Marching band action went into high gear Saturday as 22 Treasure Valley high schools competed in the annual District III Marching Band competition on the blue turf of Bronco Stadium.
In the end, Nampa High School took home the big sweepstakes trophy, with Vallivue taking second. Skyview placed first overall among 4A schools, Caldwell came in third overall among large 5A schools, Columbia nabbed third in 4A, and Homedale swept several categories among smaller schools. The awards ceremony capped off a full day of excitement.
The stadium parking lot began to fill to the brim with school buses early in the day. As students started to warm up, a wealth of uniforms and performing styles could be seen, small bands meeting large with costumes ranging from crisp and official to wild and breathtaking.
Smaller bands kicked off the event at 2 p.m. on the crisp and windy afternoon. Bigger schools followed.
“The wind made it hard, but I think we did pretty good,” Kim Ware, an eighth-grade Kuna color guard member, said. “Getting to play in Bronco Stadium is fun; (it’s) where the football players play. We get to play with these bands a lot, but it seems different, bigger, because it’s BSU.”
The pressure was especially high on some students making their way onto the Blue for the first time, mixing excitement with nervous anticipation.
ned veterans, the return to Boise presented a chance to show how they had improved over the past year and hopefully put up a worthwhile showing.
Parma High School’s David Kiser, back for his fourth-straight District III competition called their performance the best of the year, including even the school’s three showdowns earlier. “At each one we’ve gotten better and it all led up to this, which was by far our best so far,” the senior cymbals player said.
Kiser attributed the band’s success, growing from nine people to more than 50 during the past four years, to their band director.
While some groups were finishing and awaiting the awards ceremony, musicians from bigger schools waited in the wings, sizing up the competition and trying to stay warm for their early evening performances.
Brianna Curtis and Cheyane Darbin, sophomore alto saxophonists for the Caldwell High School Band, second to last to perform, said that they were ready and looking forward to victory after coming very close last year.
“It’s fun to see all the bands and what they’ve gone through and what they can do,” Curtis said. Playing on the turf is fun too.”
In addition to taking third in the 5A large overall standings, Caldwell ended with a first-place showing in the auxiliary category.
Carl Williams, publicity and programs co-chairperson for the event, said, “a lot of teams put on a very strong showing and played extraordinarily but didn’t take home trophies.”
“All of them, they did a great job. I think every team was playing on a higher level this year,” Williams said, adding that the event as a whole keeps improving annually. “It went very well, I think we’ve exceeded last year, added two bands that have never played here before and had a big audience.”
Preliminary ticket sales pointed to an audience of more than 8,000 people.
Idaho Press Tribune, October 23, 2006 Local teacher honored with degree NAMPA — Thirty years ago, Tom Stone wasn’t even thinking about band, let alone teaching the subject. Dreams of medical school or even professional tennis were floating through his mind, but all it took was one classroom experience for him to completely change course.
“After being around those kids for the first time,” Stone said, “I knew then that I’d never get out of it.”
The strong impact that Stone has made not only on all of his students, but on the community as well, is hard to overlook. Previously awarded District III Band Director of the Year and Secondary Teacher of the Year, and recently named Nampa’s 2006 Citizen of the Year, Stone was also presented with an honorary doctorate of fine arts by Northwest Nazarene University.
The degree was presented Friday, Oct. 20, in the Brandt Center Auditorium during NNU’s first academic convocation of the 2006-07 school year, recognizing not only Stone’s outstanding achievement in turning the Nampa High School music program into one of the top music programs in the state, but for his assistance with the NNU music department as an adjunct professor and interim band director.
Students, faculty, friends and family celebrated the honor with a heartfelt standing ovation. “As [Tom has] brought honor to our community, [he has] also brought honor upon Northwest Nazarene University,” said NNU President Dr. Richard Hagood.
“The honor is overwhelming,” said Stone, addressing the audience. “It’s a deep, deep honor to be appreciated by the faculty here at NNU.” Further attributing his ability to succeed to his close friends and family, Stone also made it known that he doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.
“Teaching is a mobile profession that keeps you young. It keeps you young, and it keeps you tired,” Stone deadpanned. “Indeed this is a special honor, and I hope to continue to provide music education and entertainment to the community.”
Joining his own Nampa High School Jazz Band in a special performance directed by his student teacher, Geoff Harmon, Stone played a trombone duet that demonstrated his true passion for music. Reflecting the hard work and dedication he has devoted to the music programs in the Nampa School District, the band gave and outstanding performance.
Prior to the ceremony, when asked if he ever gave much thought to the kind of impact he was making during his years of teaching, Stone’s response reflected the quiet humility with which he has served this community. “I honestly never thought that it would be this kind of impact,” he said. “But when I look back and see that I did make an impact, it’s overwhelming.”
While the awards and recognition are flattering, Stone maintains that nothing beats the joy he receives from teaching. “The biggest reward I get is looking in the eyes of a kid who has just learned something, played a note right or understood a new concept. A light goes on — and there’s nothing cooler than that.”
Idaho Press Tribune, October 22, 2006 
Idaho Press Tribune, October 15, 2006 Bands Shine in Treasure Valley Festival Nampa, Fruitland and Highland high schools swept the top awards in their size categories at Saturday’s Treasure Valley Festival of the Bands competition. The event at Vallivue High School showcased marching bands from schools across the region.
In the A5, large band division, Capital High School of Boise won second place, while Caldwell High School marchers garnered third-place honors. Nampa High School’s band director said this year’s Treasure Valley Festival of the Bands drew a collection of highly talented music students.
“It was a great competition; there was a lot of good competition,” explained Tom Stone, who called this year’s event a “sweep by three bands.”
The Nampa band took top “sweepstakes” honors, first place in general effects, first place in best music and first place for best marching for their performance of “Medusa” in the A5 large-band division.
“The Nampa kids just did what they needed to do tonight,” Stone said. “I’m very proud of the kids.”
The Treasure Valley Festival of the Bands held Saturday serves as an annual prelude for the “Super Bowl” of Southwest Idaho marching musicians next week.
Twenty-one area high schools will send close to 2,500 students to Bronco Stadium this coming Saturday to participate in the annual District III Marching Band Festival and Competition.
The festival will begin at 2 p.m. and will include a special performance by the Keith Stein Boise State University Blue Thunder Marching Band.
Revenue collected helps fund activities for District III marching bands, jazz bands, orchestras, choirs and jazz choirs.
District III tickets
Tickets for the District III Marching Band Festival and Competition may be purchased at the gate or in advance from band students. Prices are $6 for the general public and $4 for students and seniors. Programs are $3.
Idaho Press Tribune, May 17, 2006 Nampa High School Educator "Citizen of the Year" Nampa band director Tom Stone was honored with the Mayor's Citizen of the Year award Tuesday. Mayor Tom Dale was out of town but offered remarks in a pre-recorded video. "(He) exemplifies going above and beyond the norm," Dale said. "He offers the gift of music to anyone willing to work hard."
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