UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- When Blue Band President Matt Wagner arrived at the Blue Band Building bright and early in the morning on Aug. 16, he found he wasn't the first one there. "Auditions weren't supposed to begin until 8 a.m. but there was a line at the door when I got here at 7," he said. He and the other Blue Band officers are running most of the operation at the building, as prospective rookies (p-rookies) descend upon the University Park campus to audition for their chance to be part of the Blue Band. The p-rookies get their first marching lesson this evening, with more instruction and practice on Wednesday. Blue Band Director O. Richard Bundy makes the final selections on Wednesday night, and band came - with three-a-day practices begins Thursday, Aug. 18. The band will march through the tunnel and onto the field at Beaver Stadium just 18 days from audition day, on Saturday, Sept. 3. For photos from audition day, visit http://live.psu.edu/flickrset/72157627323037391 online.
Arts and Architecture
2011 Blue Band auditions under way
Mandy Kepner, Blue Band librarian, left, and Scott Patterson, vice president, check in a prospective rookie (p-rookie) on audition day, Tuesday, Aug. 16, at the Blue Band Building on Penn State's University Park campus. In the background, Blue Band historian Joshua Helsley takes a picture of a p-rookie with her nametag. Credit: Annemarie Mountz / Penn State. Creative Commons
Last Updated August 17, 2011