ARLINGTON – Bands count on a conductor to direct them, but when you’ve got a “band mom” like Teresa Hanna in your camp helping out, it makes the music played in the streets, stadiums and auditoriums that much more soulful.

Hanna has been an active volunteer ensuring that band programs in Arlington, and especially the drum line, keep functioning.

The Oso mom attends every performance and parade, doing “roadie”-like labor, hauling drums and other instruments to and from their destination.

The city sang Hanna’s praises by honoring her with the mayor’s volunteer award Monday for her work with the AHS Band and Arlington Community Band.

“She has been one of the unsung hero band moms who work behind the scenes and never expect to be thanked or recognized,” Mayor Barb Tolbert said.

Hanna became involved because her kids are in the band, and, more importantly, she did it because she knows how meaningful the program is to many students.

“For some, this is their family,” she said. “This is the place they are happy and contented for a little while.”

Hanna helped her daughter bring band back to Darrington, hauling loaner instruments to their high school for their game to witness the band playing for the first time in a decade.

In addition, during the tragedy of the Oso slide, Hanna made sure children in the area were able to get to band practice and have clothes for school.

Hanna also had a hand in helping the AHS band members’ booster club raise $100,000 to fund new uniforms for the marching band, which haven’t been replaced since 1991.

Hanna also stepped in as the organizer of the Arlington Community Band last July 4, organizing parent help and rehearsals for the band prior to the parade.