The eighth grade year is the culmination of our middle school band development. Eighth grade band is a performance based class which focuses on applying the fundamental skills learned in 6th and 7th grade into a full band setting. Students enrolling in eighth grade band must have participated in band in seventh grade. Students that are new to Hickory Middle School can enroll in band if they participated in band at their previous school. Students further develop concepts of ensemble playing through band literature for the advanced middle schooler. The 8th grade band performs anually at the District IV Virginia Band and Orchestra Director Association - Concert Band Performance Assesment. The 8th grade Symphonic Band has received the top rating of "Superior" every year since the school opened in 1997. In 2009, the 8th grade band was invited to perform at the Virginia Music Educators Association Conference, in Hot Springs, Virginia.