BLACKSBURG -- More than 100 trophies line the walls of the band room at Blacksburg High School, but it's not the competitions that longtime director Diana Love says she is proudest of when looking back on her more than 30-year career. It's the concerts.

"To me, the most important part of our program is our concert program -- that's what it's built around," Love said shortly after conducting her last assembly at the school where she has taught since 1983.

After getting married last month, Love plans to relocate to Morgantown, W.Va., where her husband, Jim Brown, teaches marketing at West Virginia University. She plans to continue to teach music.

Love said she will miss interacting with students at the high school, but she "didn't want to be in a position and look back and wish I had" left sooner.

Twenty-seven of her students -- a fairly large number -- are due to graduate next month, and that also made it seem like an appropriate time to bow out. Next year is likely to be a transitional period for the band in any case, Love said.

Love recalled the time about 15 years ago when the symphonic band played at the Kennedy Center in Washington. She also cited the many trips to the state music festival, particularly the year dedicated to music written by Virginia composers. Several of them helped coach the band on its performance.

And this afternoon will be another memorable performance.

For the last time, Love will lead students -- and probably some alumni -- through a more than hour-long spring concert at the high school.

Love said seven or eight of this year's seniors seem likely to end up teaching or performing music for a living.

But whether or not they make a career in music, Love said she hopes all her students will continue to have a passion for the art form and will have developed a strong work ethic and ability to work as a team.

Those are essential skills to succeed in most jobs, not just in a band, Love said.

"You always tell them each time they do it, expect they can do it a little bit better," she said. "I hope they take away that work ethic."

After posing for group pictures with her students following the assembly, Love helped them move dozens of music stands, chairs and instruments from the high school auditorium, a part of the job that she joked she would not miss.

Before heading off to their next class, several students said they were sad to be losing their firm but caring teacher.

Robert Borman, a 16-year-old who plays the tuba, said he had heard "horror stories" about Love being strict before he was taught by her.

But in his experience, Borman said, "she only yelled at the band once and that was when we were goofing off. She's actually one of the best teachers we have, and it's going to be a shame to lose her."

Daniel Lin, a 16-year-old who plays flute, tenor saxophone and piano, said playing in the band "just kind of grows on you. It's almost like a second family sometimes."

He said Love treats all her students as if they are equally important, regardless of their skill at their instrument.

Asked about her teaching style, Love said, "I set high expectations."

And of her students, she said, "I feel like their ability is limitless."

High school band teachers have to stay on top of their students or they will be faced with a chaotic -- and earsplitting -- situation, said Walt Bostian, a former student who now lives in Boston and plays trombone professionally.

"You've got a bunch of kids with loud instruments in their hands and need to keep order," he said.

Bands have a lot more students than regular high school classes, and maintaining control takes a "special person," Bostian said.

"Frankly, I don't think it's something that I could do," he said.

Even though he would up making a career in music, Bostian said he learned a lot more in band class than how to play an instrument.

"For me," he said, "certainly the most responsibility I was given in high school came in the band from both leading the trombone section and I was a band captain. That was something that I felt really served me later on -- actually having that trust put in me."

Paula Wilder, whose son Nic plays tuba in the band, said Love "really teaches not only the love of music, and a variety of musical styles, she also teaches them how to come together as a group."

Wilder is part of a group that is raising money to set up a scholarship in Love's name to help former members of the band pay for college.

Nearly 100 people have contributed so far and the group has raised more than $15,000. The plan was to announce the Diana Love Instrumental Music Scholarship at a reception following this afternoon's concert at the high school, Wilder said.

"People who are actually pursuing a real instrumental music career will probably be the first awardees."