When entering the Blue Band Building on Penn State's University Park campus you will find numerous pictures, day-by-day schedules for the coming months and an excited and involved staff assistant, Karen Walk. Now in her 34th year at Penn State and 25th season with the Blue Band, Walk has dedicated seemingly countless hours to assisting the band, its director, O. Richard Bundy, and his staff. Upon graduating from Bald Eagle Area High School in 1978, Walk took a position in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. After nine years, she sought a new challenge and applied for the Blue Band staff assistant position under then-director Ned C. Deihl. (more)
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. (more)
Good lawyers are precise. They multitask. They manage time effectively while focusing on the big picture. Joe Devine, Class of 2011, got a head start on building those skills as a member of the iconic Penn State Blue Band. A four-year Blue Band veteran from his undergraduate days at Penn State, he auditioned for the band once again and made it in time to perform during his third year of law school and perform once again before more than 100,000 fans during each home game. (more)
An estimated 34,000 Penn State students, alumni and fans took to the Tampa Bay area for the 2011 Outback Bowl, but while many were there for leisure, more than 300 members and staff of the 2010-11 Penn State Blue Band were hard at work. Blue Band trombonist and Penn State Live photographer Andy Colwell documented the bowl trip from the Blue Band perspective. To see his photos (and one with his camera by band uniform manager Cory Ingram), visit http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/2410 online. For his video coverage, visit http://goo.gl/sbuYb and http://goo.gl/69rek online. (more)
In a given week, Justin Ross spends 50 to 70 hours studying to become a mechanical engineer, 20 hours rehearsing for Blue Band and an additional 10 hours carrying out responsibilities as the band's president. That adds up to four days of nonstop activity. How do students with two such time-consuming commitments -- an engineering course load and Blue Band -- pull it off each week? Some say it's about time management. Some say it takes extreme dedication. Others say it requires working ahead -- but four members say that no matter how stressed they become juggling Blue Band and engineering, it's always worth it. (more)
Everyone knows by now that Penn State downed LSU 19-17 in an exciting Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day. Those who were not down in Orlando for Bowl Week may not be aware of the other festivities surrounding the event, however, so Penn State Live is presenting a photo retrospective of those events. Cyndee Graves, assistant director of University Marketing, was on the official Alumni Association tour, and got photos of the events as she experienced them. In addition, Public Information student photographer and Blue Band member Andy Colwell carried his camera along with his trombone, and captured Bowl Week activities from the Blue Band perspective -- including one picture he took while marching behind Drum Major Matt Sabo in the Citrus Parade. To view a selection of their photos, visit http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/2198 online. For more details about the game, visit http://live.psu.edu/story/43617 online. (more)
Saturday, Nov. 14, was a day for tributes and honors at Penn State, as the football team and the Blue Band marked Senior Day. During the pregame Tailgreat at the Bryce Jordan Center, Blue Band Director O. Richard Bundy joined the trombone section for their feature, playing a new Yamaha trombone that the company presented to him in recognition of his 30 years of service to the Blue Band. The honors continued at Tailgreat, as Blue Sapphire PJ Maierhofer was presented with the USA and World Twirling Championships trophy. The fifth-year senior earned the trophy and the title of College Miss Majorette of America during the championships, held at Notre Dame in July. On the field, football seniors defeated Indiana 31-20 in their last home game of their college careers. For photos, visit http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/2183 online. (more)
WPSU, Penn State's public broadcasting station, announced Monday (Sept. 28) that it has earned two 2009 Mid-Atlantic Emmy awards from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for shows "Making the Blue Band" and "Cook Like a Chef." These regional awards recognize local productions for excellence in television programming. (more)
Rec Hall was filled to capacity, with people standing on the running track above the bleachers, for the Be A Part From The Start rally, the final event of Welcome Week for freshmen on Penn State's University Park campus. The event featured the Blue Band, Lionettes Dance Team, cheerleaders, a trivia quiz, a pep talk by quarterbacks Coach Jay Paterno and giveaways, including free textbooks for four years, won by two lucky freshmen in the crowd. The annual event is designed to get the freshmen excited about the upcoming football season and teach them the cheers and traditions they need to know to "Be A Part From The Start." For photos, visit http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/2125 online. (more)
After a mere week of preparations, auditions and rehearsals, the Penn State Blue Band, a fixture of Penn State for 110 consecutive years, is whole once again. During auditions on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of last week, more than 450 students vied for the organization's 310 positions, which include 262 musicians, 34 silks, 11 majorettes, a drum major and a feature twirler. For pictures of the preparations for the 2009 football, and marching, season, visit http://live.psu.edu/stilllife/2124 online. (more)
