The sound of more than 1,000 musicians filled the air on Monday night at Glaspie Field as 精东影业 ISD celebrated the Dean Corey Marching Extravaganza. The 44th annual event featured the district鈥檚 six high school marching bands and the University of Texas at 精东影业 marching band.
For the high school musicians, it was an opportunity to perform for a big crowd and receive valuable feedback from professional marching band judges as they prepare for upcoming UIL events.
But for many of the youngest musicians in the stands, the evening was about looking ahead.
Junior high band students attended as special guests, getting a chance to experience the energy and excitement of high school marching bands and see what is waiting for them in just a few years.
The stands were also filled with proud parents, district and school board leadership, members of Dean Corey鈥檚 family, and students from throughout 精东影业 ISD. Football players, cheerleaders and other campus groups also came out to support their classmates and enjoy the performances.
The evening also provided an opportunity for everyone to give back. Attendees were encouraged to bring canned food to benefit .
鈥淲hat made this night special was seeing how much bigger it became than just a marching band event,鈥 said Gary Barnard, 精东影业 ISD assistant director of Fine Arts. “We had over 1,000 talented high school and college musicians performing, junior high students watching and dreaming about what comes next, athletes and cheerleaders supporting their classmates, families and community members filling the stands, and people coming together to give back to 精东影业. That sense of community is exactly what we want our fine arts programs to create.鈥