As of the 2025-2026 school year, Victor Villaorduna, South Broward High School’s band director for the last six years, will not be returning. Fondly known as Mr. V, Villaorduna first joined the school in 2018 to help the band directors at the time. Although they all eventually left, Villaorduna did not, and he managed to accomplish a lot in his half a decade here.

“Nine plaques in six years,” said Villaorduna.

The plaques in question are awarded to bands that earn a superior rating in annual assessments. From an outside perspective, these awards are just that: prizes given to the top bands in the district. But for Villaorduna, the plaques represent much more, considering this accomplishment wouldn’t have been possible at the beginning of his South Broward career.

“I took over after some dark times within the program itself,” he said.

Teachers around long enough to know how the band used to be before may hold a similar opinion as Jennifer Shapiro, an art teacher at the school.

“The band was basically a mess,” she said. “He brought it back together.”

So how did Villaorduna turn it around in such a short amount of time? Well, it wasn’t a linear process. Like with any new experience, he had a learning curve when it came to directing South Broward’s band.

“I think a commonality among teachers is realizing college could only prepare you so much for the classroom and the students,” said Villaorduna.

The main thing he was not prepared for: the students leaving the classroom. Honing his musical skills since middle school, all the way to when he earned his associates and bachelor’s of music education, meant that he had a pretty solid idea of how he wanted to run his program. However, many students weren’t receptive to some of his teaching styles in the beginning.

“Hearing and knowing that because of me and the atmosphere and methodology I was using to run the program was actually running kids out and having them quit because they weren’t enjoying it was a low point,” he said.

Despite this set-back, Villaorduna was able to adapt in his methods to make being in the band a more enjoyable experience for returning and first time students alike.

“My student leadership thankfully had enough gull to have an uncomfortable conversation with me,” he said. “It helped me change my philosophy and mindset.”

Since making that change within the first two years, the impact it made on the band’s quality of music allowed them to earn the plaques they did. But it also made an impact on the students’ lives themselves. 

”He’s become kind of a father figure,” said junior Edna Menendez. “He’s always there to help us with anything.”

From helping students during his study hall to taking them on field trips to extra curricular ensembles,  Villaorduna tries to give his students as many opportunities as possible to improve.

“You get out of these four walls and you learn from other directors,” he said.

He takes pride in the improvement his students have made over the years. In past years, only the band’s top students earned awards at the yearly assessments. This has become a thing of the past, as Villaorduna established both a legitimate second and third group to bring with him.

“They went from playing grade level 1’s, the lowest you can go, and now they’re playing grade level 3’s,” he said. “So a drastic improvement has been made with them.”

Daniela Cruz-Ayala, a senior in the band, was able to come to Villaorduna with her musical aspirations.

“When I told him I wanted to pursue music after high school, he really dedicated time to helping me with that,” she said. “He gave me advice and even helped with auditions.”

Unfortunately, Villaorduna won’t be able to continue mentoring his students once this school year wraps. Although he has cherished his time at South Broward, he’s made the decision to move to Orlando for the foreseeable future.

”We’re really just moving for the sake of my family,” he said. “I want my only son to grow up with his cousins.”

Though he is leaving a job he has become so familiar with, he doesn’t intend to hang up his director’s hat just yet.

“My plan is to continue with teaching,” said Villaorduna. “I just don’t know what level, whether elementary, middle, or high school.”

No matter where he ends up, South Broward’s band students won’t forget Villaorduna any time soon.

”I was thinking about not being in the band after he leaves,” said Menendez. “But I know he would tell me to stay.”