ARLINGTON — The breadth of Arlington’s band students will be showcased at the Linda M. Byrnes Performing Arts Center on Feb. 8, when Arlington High School’s concert groups will be joined by the Haller and Post middle school eighth-grade bands for their annual combined winter band concert.

AHS Band Director John Grabowski will start the evening with the freshman Concert Band playing “The Great Mother Lode March” by former AHS teacher Bob La Torre, followed by “Trail of Tears” by James Barnes.

Joe Horsak will lead the Haller Middle School eighth-grade band in “Canticum” by J. Curnow and highlights from “The Wizard of Oz” by E.Y. Harbling and H. Allen, arranged by Michael Story.

“This is my favorite concert of the year,” Horsak said. “Mr. Grabowski visits and works with our eighth-grade students, who then get to perform with him in the Performing Arts Center and hear the Arlington High School bands. Mr. Grabowski and the kids there do a phenomenal job, and the audience is very impressed with their level of musicianship. Arlington is fortunate to have a high school program operating at that level.”

Post Middle School’s eighth-grade band, directed by Kipp Otterness, will perform “Salvation Is Created” by Pavel Chesnokov, arranged by Michael Brown, and “Maya: The Lost Civilization” by Michael Story.

“This is always a great concert for eighth-graders and their parents,” Otterness said. “They get a preview of Mr. Grabowski and the fantastic band program at AHS. I also enjoy seeing the students I used to teach and how much they’ve grown.”

Horsak and Otterness will combine their eighth-grade groups and turn the baton over to Grabowski to lead the future freshmen in “Aline March” by Harold Bennett, arranged by Larry Clark. This gives all the students an opportunity to work with Grabowski prior to their first year at AHS.

Grabowski will continue the concert with his AHS Symphonic Band, from grades 10-12, playing “March of the Freemen” by Jerry Nowak and “Aventura” by James Swearingen.

The evening will conclude with a performance by the AHS Wind Ensemble, featuring students in grades 10-12 who have auditioned to be with this group. Under Grabowski’s direction, they will perform “Second Century” by Alfred Reed, “Horkstow Grange (The Miser and His Man: A Local Tragedy)” by Percy Aldridge Grainger and “Symphonic Dance No. 3 (Fiesta)” by Clifton Williams.

The Byrnes Performing Arts Center is located at 18812 Crown Ridge Blvd. in Arlington. The free concert will begin at 7 p.m.