"A Morning with the Husky Marching Band"

Corey Jahlas - Associate Director of Athletic Bands

University of Washington
This morning BBRC will be joined by 20 members of the UW Husky Marching Band to entertain us, led by Corey Jahlas. these young men and women will display their musical talent to inspire us as well as make us thankful that we live in a free country for Veterans Day weekend. The remainder of the band will be commemorating Veteran's Day on the UW campus.

Are you aware that the only scholarship given by the Husky Marching Band is to their baton twirler? These young men and women commit a tremendous amount of time to follow their passion and appear at both UW events and Husky sporting events. A few historical tidbits about the band are below:

The Husky Marching Band enters 2023 in its 94th season. Since 1929, the world-famous Husky Band has been entertaining audiences from the shores of Lake Washington to Australia, China, Ireland, Japan, and even Norway. Loyal UW Alumni and other band followers love to sing along to the University of Washington fight song “Bow Down to Washington,” or “Tequila!” which is known as the Husky Band’s signature song.

Bill Bissell was the third Band Director, 1970 to 1994. One of the great showmen among college band directors, Husky crowds watched Bissell’s bands recreate the Mt. St. Helens eruption, stage horse races, and wear outrageous costumes. In addition to his duties with the Husky Band, Bissell was also placed in charge of commencement and served as an administrator for the Alumni Association during his time at the University of Washington.

Since its inception in 1929, the Husky Band has gone through many changes, but still strives for a high degree of musicality, precision marching, and the pinnacle of Husky spirit and pride. The current director, Dr. J. Bradley McDavid, is the Husky Band’s fourth Head Director. He follows in a long history of true and dedicated Huskies to accept the reins.

The Husky Band appeared in the 1996 Disney film “The Sixth Man.” Other special performances include the 1995 and 2002 Wheel of Fortune Collegiate Tournament of Champions and the Key Arena Opening Night, which included a performance with the Seattle Symphony. The Husky Band has also made appearances on the USS Kittyhawk (1995), USS Constellation (1996 and 1999) and the USS Nimitz (2001).

About the Speaker

Corey Jahlas is currently the Associate Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Washington, where he is also finishing his doctorate in Wind Conducting. A native of Michigan, Corey previously attended Central Michigan University for his Bachelors of Music Education and his Master of Music degrees and taught middle school band for several years. Corey is an in-demand music educator, marching band drill writer, arranger, conductor, and adjudicator. He has designed halftime shows for both high school and college bands across the country, including Bowling Green State University, Central Michigan University, Gettysburg College, University of New Hampshire, University of Michigan, and University of Washington. Corey spends his summers teaching high school Drum Majors in both Washington and Michigan. Corey currently resides in Seattle, WA where he lives with his cat, Copland.