Events

The Arlington Community Band was originally formed in 1976 in honor of the City of Arlington’s celebration of the American Bicentennial. Later, the band re-organized as the Arlington Civic Band to offer the citizens of Arlington the opportunity to experience symphonic band music. The band began its concert season in the summer of 1982 under the direction of Ray Lichtenwalter, band director at UTA. 

In 1992, Steve Musser became musical director and conductor of the Arlington Community Band (ACB) and served a two year term. In 1994 the band was incorporated as the Arlington Community Band. Bob Copeland then conducted and directed the ACB for 16 years as head director, as well as 12 additional years as assistant director when the band was originally formed. 

In December 2009, Bob Copeland retired from the band. Rick Baker, who played trumpet in the band for 28 years, was appointed musical director and conductor. 

During the 2000 summer season, sentiment was strong among the band membership to perform on a year-round basis. The ACB has performed many concerts since then, most notably at Arlington's annual Fourth of July Parade. The band has also appeared at Six Flags Over Texas, Riverfest at River Legacy Park, UTA Summer Music Camps, and numerous locations around Arlington during its summer concert seasons. Over recent years, the ACB has continued to perform at the Arlington Fourth of July Parade, as well as the Parade of Lights every December. Indoor concerts are regularly hosted by many area churches and retirement homes, including First United Methodist Church, First Church of the Nazarene, First Christian Church, New World United Methodist Church, Irving Arts Center and Fox Run Retirement Center. As well as performing annually for the Arlington Downtown Rotary Club. 

In 2005, the Arlington City Council proclaimed the Arlington Community Band as “The Official Band of Arlington”.

Jennifer Cowley is the first female president of The University of Texas at Arlington and the 10th overall. She is also a professor of public affairs and planning in the College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs.

Dr. Cowley has dedicated her career to public service. Before joining UT Arlington, she was the provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of North Texas, where she led economic development partnerships, advanced diversity and inclusion initiatives, fostered student success, bolstered the research portfolio, and helped increase enrollment. She worked at The Ohio State University for 16 years, serving as the vice provost for capital planning and regional campuses, associate dean of the College of Engineering, head of city and regional planning, and a professor during her time there. While at OSU, Cowley also led four regional campuses, helped develop the President’s and Provost’s Teaching Institute to aid faculty in improving teaching quality and advancing effectiveness, and created a capital plan that led to more than $1 billion in development over a five-year period.

Prior to entering academia, Cowley worked in city government in Amarillo and College Station. She earned a Ph.D. in urban and regional science, master’s degree in urban planning, and bachelor’s degree in political science from Texas A&M University and master’s degrees in interdisciplinary studies and public administration from UNT. She is a fellow of American Institute of Certified Planners and a member of the executive committee of the Council on Academic Affairs in the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities.

An Arlington native, Cowley and her husband, Jon, have a high-school-age son, Nathan, and a pet chinchilla named Chinchi.

This is an offsite meeting at J Giligan's 407 E. South St