About The Marcus Band Program
The Marcus High School attendance zone incorporates a feeder system including three middle schools and seven elementary schools. Instrumental music begins in the sixth grade level at Briarhill, Downing, and Lamar Middle Schools in homogeneous class settings. Full band classes are structured for seventh and eighth graders where individual skills are emphasized and ensemble skills are developed and refined.
At the high school level, all students participate in the Marcus Marching Band during the majority of the fall semester. The Marching Band includes approximately 220 wind players, 30 percussionists, and 30 color guard members. The Marcus Marching Band serves as musical entertainment and support of the varsity football team at all games. In addition, the band prepares and performs a musical and visual program for marching competitions, including the UIL contests, Bands of America competitions, and others.
The Marcus Concert Ensembles are the foundation of the band organization. During the spring semester, students are assigned to one of four concert ensembles based on ability level: The Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and the Varsity Band meet daily for ninety minutes, and all bands prepare several concerts throughout the concert season. In addition, many of the students participate in individual events, such as the TMEA All-Region process and the LISD Solo & Ensemble Competition. Several students each year advance to the TMEA All-Area auditions, and eventually become part of one of the Texas All-State Bands or Orchestras, which perform during the Texas Music Educator’s Association (TMEA) Conference in February of each year in San Antonio, Texas. As full ensembles, the concert bands compete at Texas University Interscholastic League (UIL) Concert and Sight-Reading Contests as well as other various concert competitions during the spring semester. Additional winter and spring performance-based programs are sustained in the winter and spring months, including the Percussion Ensemble, Winter Guard, and chamber music programs.
The Marcus Band Program is consistently supported by the incredible network of parents who comprise the band booster organization. Year after year, these individuals perform extraordinary efforts to provide financial, physical and moral support to the wonderful students in the wind, percussion, and color guard programs at Marcus High School.