Prospective second-year returnee trombonist Katelynn Griess discusses parts of her audition material with Assistant Director Greg Drane on Wednesday, Aug. 20, following her music audition. All members wishing to the return to the band are required to go through the same music audition process as the rookie prospects.

Freshman trombonist James Ball, right, reacts with relief as he hears his name called. At the end of prospective rookie practice on Wednesday night, Blue Band Director Richard Bundy announced the names of those musicians who made the cuts and have been invited back for the start of three-a-day rehearsals on Thursday. About twice as many prospective rookies auditioned than there were available... Read more ›

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 the staff, and dust-filtering facemasks were issued to band members.

Freshman Max Besong gets fitted for the standard issue spats and Nike athletic shoes by fourth-year band member Devon Herrick during Uniform Day, held Sunday, Aug. 24, at the Blue Band Building. Uniform parts such as spats and gloves are purchased each year by band members to maintain a uniform appearance, but all rookies are issued a pair of black shoes such as these shown here as part of... Read more ›

The Blue Band performs its halftime show. For more photos of the Blue Band's nine-day band camp, visit live.psu.edu/stilllife/1780 online.