Join Arlington ISD on Sept. 27 for the 39th annual Dean Corey Marching Extravaganza!
All six of Arlington ISD’s phenomenal high school marching bands (Arlington, Bowie, Lamar, Martin, Sam Houston and Seguin) will take the field and perform from 7-8:30 p.m. at Cravens Field.
Each band will perform the shows they will take to the UIL Region that takes place Tuesday, Oct. 12, at Vernon Newsom Stadium in Mansfield. Bands that receive a first division rating advance to the area competition, and the top bands from the area move on to the state marching competition in the first full week in November.
The extravaganza is a unique opportunity to witness the prestige of each of Arlington ISD’s spectacular bands. Arlington ISD Director of Fine Arts Christopher Anderson is thrilled about this year’s event.
“Not only is this great for our public to see the health and quality of the programs in Arlington, but it is also a chance for our junior high band students to attend and see what marching band is all about at the high school level,” said Anderson.
The extravaganza honors the legacy of Dean P. Corey, an Arlington High School band director from 1949-1972, who later served as coordinator of music activities for the district from 1972-1980. Corey is also the namesake of Arlington ISD’s elementary school, Corey Academy of Fine Arts and Dual Language.
“The old adage ‘we stand on the shoulders of giants’ has never been any truer than it is with the arts in Arlington ISD,” said Anderson. “There are great things happening in the arts right now in the district, but we should recognize that those who came before us championed the arts, increased the visibility of every discipline and created the foundation on which our programs’ successes stand.
“Whether we are talking about Dean Corey or any of the previous arts directors, we are talking about great visionary people who saw the possibilities that exist in Arlington for our children. This event is no exception as we get to come together in a single evening and see all six bands perform their halftime shows back-to-back.”
The University of Texas at Arlington’s marching band will also perform at the extravaganza, giving district students the opportunity to see a university marching band up close and personal.
Tickets are $5 per person at the gate, and proceeds from all ticket sales will benefit the Arlington Music Enrichment Program. The mission of the Arlington Music Enrichment Program is to improve the musical education experience for all Arlington ISD students in band, choir and orchestra programs by providing financial assistance to students for music lessons.
Concessions will be open. Please do not bring outside food or drinks into the event.
Be sure to follow the district’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages for posts from the event on Sept. 27.
For any questions about this event, email the event coordinator, Raeanne Byington, at rbyingto@aisd.net.