Two iconic IUSD leaders are expected to attend the 2012 Donald Bren Honors Concert

It’s considered one of IUSD’s signature events, an opportunity for some of the district’s most accomplished young musicians to take center stage.

On Wednesday, April 25, more than 750 students in grades three through 12 will perform at the 2012 Donald Bren Honors Concert. Presented by the Irvine Public Schools Foundation, the event will once again be staged in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. The show begins at 7 p.m., though a special primary music performance by district third-graders will begin outside the venue at 6:30 p.m. This year will mark the 30th Donald Bren Honors Concert, and if that weren’t special enough, we’re told two distinguished guests will make an appearance. Stan Corey, who was superintendent when Irvine Unified was founded back in 1972, is set to attend, as is Dean Waldfogel, who was IUSD’s schools chief from 2002 through 2006. “This promises to be an extraordinary night of music for the entire Irvine community, and we could not be more excited to welcome two of the Irvine Unified School District’s most influential leaders,” said Brad Van Patten, IUSD’s coordinator of Visual and Performing Arts. “Stan Corey and Dean Waldfogel are icons in Irvine, and both were great supporters of our district’s music programs. We look forward to returning the favor by treating them to a great performance.” In all, more than 17,000 IUSD students have participated over the years in the annual Donald Bren Honors Concert, which generates funds to support music education in Irvine. The concert is of course named in honor of Irvine Company chairman and philanthropist Donald Bren. Under his leadership, the Donald Bren Foundation and the Irvine Company have provided more than $200 million to support education, including $20 million to preserve music, art and science programs in IUSD. General admission ticket prices start at $20 and may be purchased through the Segerstrom Center for the Arts by phone at 714-556-2787 or online at www.scfta.org. You can also go straight to the box office, which, we're told, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and located at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. For more information, contact IPSF at 949-263-8340 or visit www.ipsf.net.