2008 Blue Band 1
The Blue Band has fun marching from their building to the Bryce Jordan Center for Tailgreat, entertaining fans along the way with chants and dances.
2008 Blue Band 2
The moment of truth ... the Penn State Blue Band enters Beaver Stadium to perform its pregame show.
2008 Blue Band 3
Due to the nine hours of Blue Band Camp per day, with constant sun and temperatures in the upper 80s during the day, water breaks such as these were not only refreshing but also required to keep band personnel properly hydrated.
2008 Blue Band 4
Members of the Blue Band trumpet section practice the sequence of playing and high-stepping, which is a trademark of the Blue Band pregrame performance.
2008 Blue Band 5
After a particularly productive music sectional, the Sousaphone section takes a break for a communal back-rub during on Friday evening of Band Camp.
2008 Blue Band 6
Blue Band President Steve Garguilo addresses the assembled band personnel during the closing Huddle which wrapped up each day of camp.
2008 Blue Band 7
Rookies complete Friday night's Rookie Run during Blue Band Camp to the congratulations of the veteran members of the band. The Run, a traditional part of band camp takes place each night during the Huddle: the rookies are challenged to recite the words to The Nittany Lion. If the group of newcomers cannot complete it to the satisfaction of the returnees, then the group, led by Director O.... Read more ›
2008 Blue Band 8
Under the ear of Greg Drane, assistant director of the Blue Band, various brass section guides "check off" the required school songs, according to a rigorous schedule aimed at having all band members memorize every school song and cheer by the end of the season. The guides (upperclassmen selected for leadership of instrumental sections), however, must have the same 15-plus songs tested by the... Read more ›
2008 Blue Band 9
Dust flies as the Blue Band finishes their final Band Camp night session after the band completes a run-through of its pregame drill. Due to the hot, dry, un-watered conditions and constant pounding of the ground by 300-plus pairs of feet, trenches of bare dirt have formed a grid in the grass of the field. This season, the dust at some points reached a level deemed potentially unhealthful by... Read more ›
2008 Blue Band 10
Blue Band Director O. Richard Bundy rallies the band with a final message of approval after the conclusion of the last day of Band Camp following the Rookie Run, with a collective cheer of "Go! State! Beat! Coastal!" Bundy led the cheer before the band was dismissed from this last 14-hour day.
2008 Blue Band 11
Rookies run behind Blue Band Director O. Richard Bundy during the nightly Rookie Run - each night, until these new members learned the words to The Nittany Lion fight song, they were required to take a lap around the practice field while they and the band sing the school song. This particular run, on Saturday, Aug. 23, was the last of band camp, and a ceremonial end to their rookie band camp.... Read more ›
2008 Blue Band 12
Trombone section guide Phil Sibley, bottom center, takes a moment to deliver a motivational message during a sectional huddle on the last night of band camp. Sibley is a fourth-year member of the Blue Band.
2008 Blue Band 13
Third-year Blue Band member Steve Ruhmel stands at attention while Blue Band staff volunteer Meg Pedlow takes alteration measurements during uniform fitting day on Sunday, Aug. 24, at the Blue Band Building. The uniforms are new this year, and so each piece is being fitted for the first time.
2008 Blue Band 14
Blue Band members are silhouetted Tuesday, Aug. 26, against one of several brilliant sunsets that graced the evening rehearsals during band camp.
2008 Blue Band 15
Blue Band manager Tom Hofmann stacks sousaphone bells in the Blue Band equipment room. The instruments are stored in pieces over the off-season, and re-assembled in the fall.
2008 Blue Band 16
Prospective rookie (p-rookie) James Ball works on some music before the start of the final tryout session on Wednesday evening, Aug. 20.
2008 Blue Band 17
Prospective rookie (p-rookie) Blue Band members get some extra practice in before the evening session on Wednesday, Aug. 20. This session was a critical one for the p-rookies, as it gave them one final chance to shine before selections were made.
2008 Blue Band 18
Not everyone was nervous at the Wednesday evening tryout session. Fifth-year senior trumpet guide Jim Delancey from York played Frisbee with some other Blue Band officers before the evening session began. Guides are leaders who help to teach others in their ranks.
2008 Blue Band 19
At this final tryout session, prospective rookies (p-rookies) spent a lot of time marching and voicing or singing their parts, rather than playing, to enable them to concentrate more on the marching aspects of the drill.
2008 Blue Band 20
Roughly 290 prospective rookies (p-rookies) auditioned for 72 open instrumental spots in the Blue Band, making competition strong as the p-rookies worked to prove they deserved one of the coveted spots in the band.
Monday, March 1, 2021
