Woodside music student earns all-state honors four times
Posted: May 20, 2025
Liam Barnstead, a graduating senior in Woodside High School's Arts & Communications Magnet Program, earned Virginia Music Educators Association All-State Band for all four years of high school for French Horn.
Earning the distinction four times is considered extremely rare and special.
"This is a huge, huge accomplishment," said Katie SheehanSmith, Newport News Public Schools instructional supervisor for the Visual & Performing Arts.
Woodside celebrated Barnstead's rare feat with a surprise gathering featuring his family and fellow students on May 14 in the band room. A commemorative banner along with plenty of balloons, decorations and cake accompanied the cheers and clapping greeted the unsuspecting Barnstead as he came through the door.
"It's really awesome to see my hard work recognized," Barnstead said. "I’m still kind of surprised about this whole thing."
SheehanSmith, Woodside Principal Dr. Mary Hardesty and Director of Bands Brian Grieb spoke to the crowd about what Barnstead has meant to the school division's music program and the example he has set for other students coming behind him who may be interested in studying music.
"This is a once in a teaching career kind of thing," Grieb said as photos were taken and cake was passed around the room. "This is very, very, very rare for him to make it every single time. We probably won't see another kid like this maybe ever. So it's really cool.
"And he spent his whole career in Newport News-elementary, middle and high school. This is a testament to his education here in the city."
Barnstead's main instrument is the French horn and he also plays piano. He has performed in Woodside's Indoor Percussion Line, played piano for its jazz band and served as a drum major. Barnstead is also very active in Soundscapes performance ensembles in the local community.
He will attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in the fall majoring in French horn performance. Barnstead plans to become a professional performer and then possibly join a military band or orchestra.
"I'm just excited to be able to do music after high school as a career, that's the biggest thing for me," Barnstead said. "I encourage all of the students here, if they're passionate about music, to go chase their dream. It's obtainable."
