2009 Blue Band Auditions 1
Students and their families line up outside the Blue Band Building prior to registering for prospective rookie auditions for the 2009 Penn State Blue Band, a 310-member group that performs at all home football games and many University events on the University Park campus and elsewhere. Approximately 200 such students went through a musical and physical marching tryout process to compete for... Read more ›
2009 Blue Band Auditions 2
Penn State Blue Band Drum Major Matt Sabo, right, leads prospective rookie and returnee Blue Band members in morning warmups on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Approximately 200 membership hopefuls auditioned for the 310-piece organization, also competing with the 230-plus returnee members who re-audition to maintain their membership. Full band camp, which consisted of three three-a-day rehearsals,... Read more ›
2009 Blue Band Auditions 3
Returnee Blue Band members Herb Payung, left, and Eric Ebert, right, both juniors, fill out information in the Blue Band Building on Tuesday, Aug. 18, prior to their returnee audition. To form the Blue Band each year, returnee members must audition, along with prospective rookies who are seeking to join the band the first time. This practice aims to ensure top quality and dedication to the 310... Read more ›
2009 Blue Band Auditions 4
Prospective rookie silk members observe Penn State seniors and Blue Band Silks veterans Kelly Kitchenman, left, and Vy Nguyen, right, demonstrate silk technique during the final audition day which took place on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Prospective bandfront members such as the silks began the audition process in the spring semester. Approximately 50 students, including returnee members, competed... Read more ›
2009 Blue Band Auditions 5
Blue Band guide Ryan Stahl, left, helps prospective Blue Band rookie Alex Vavreck, right, a freshman, with the execution of the traditional Blue Band high step marching style during marching fundamentals instruction on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Approximately 200 prospective rookies, also called "p-rookies," turned out to audition for fewer than 100 spots in the Blue Band.
2009 Blue Band Auditions 6
Blue Band Director O. Richard Bundy, front left, observes the 200-plus prospective rookie auditions during marching fundamentals sessions on Wednesday, Aug. 19, a day full of marching and musical instruction required for any Penn State University Park student to become a member of the Penn State Marching Blue Band. Prospective members were competing for approximately 70 open spots in the 310-... Read more ›
2009 Blue Band Auditions 7
Prospective returnee members of the Blue Band listen to band director O. Richard Bundy on Wednesday, Aug. 19, the day in which these students re-audition to maintain their membership in the 310-person organzation. Although they do not have to undergo the marching evaluation required for first-year members-to-be, returnees still must present themselves for a music audition in front of staff, in... Read more ›
2009 Blue Band Auditions 8
A prospective rookie percussionist marches past Blue Band director O. Richard Bundy, background, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, the day on which all prospective rookie Blue Band members auditioned for the 310-member group. Some 200 musicians and bandfront members tried out for around 70 open spots, also competing against 230-plus returnees who are required to audition to maintain their membership.
2009 Blue Band Auditions 9
The full 2009 Penn State Blue Band practices in the sunset of Friday, Aug. 21, during the last of a trio of three-hour rehearsals. The full 310-member band undertakes three such days of rehearsal after being assembled via auditions by prospective and returning members. The organization first performs in uniform at the home football opener against Akron on Sept. 5.
2009 Blue Band Auditions 10
Penn State Blue Band members work on choreography during band camp practice in the evening of Satuday, Aug. 22. The moves will to accompany their musical and marching performance on Sept. 5 during the home football opener against Akron. The show will include hit songs by the Motown group the Jackson 5 and late recording artist Michael Jackson.
2009 Blue Band Auditions 11
Senior Blue Band member Bill Shuey, right, holds still while graduate conducting assistant Eric Hahn, left, marks his uniform trousers for hemming on Sunday, Aug. 23. In addition to uniform fitting and measuring, Blue Band members are issued marching shoes and other uniform components for use in the band's first uniformed performance on Sept. 5 during the home football game against the... Read more ›
2009 Blue Band Auditions 12
The 2009 Penn State Blue Band performs its first concert at Be A Part From The Start in Rec Hall on Sunday, Aug. 23. The event, aimed at freshman, also provided an opportunity for the four-day-old ensemble to present itself. The 310-member group auditioned, trained and rehearsed during an intensive five-day period from Tuesday, Aug. 18, through Saturday, Aug. 23. For more pictures from the... Read more ›
Monday, January 18, 2021
