BY CURT HARLER
The Blue Band is inviting the Alumni Blue Band to join them in celebrating our 125th anniversary. The Annual Blue Band Banquet takes on special meaning this year and the Blue Band has arranged for a limited number of alums to be a part of the party.
The Annual Banquet will be held at the Penn Stater Hotel on Sunday, April 6 at 7 pm.
“This is a special anniversary year for us,” says Blue Band Director Dr. Greg Drane. “The banquet is an opportunity to celebrate our 125 with the alumni.”
The students are arranging a special guest speaker.
Presently, there is room for 75 ABBA members (and guests) to attend. To secure your spot use the link below. Tickets can be purchased for $65 each. Of course, part of the ticket price goes to support Blue Band activities. These include such niceties as hand warmers and cups of hot chocolate served during the third quarter to ease the 11-degree temperatures at one playoff game. It also will help defray the cost of the post-game meals the Blue Band provides everyone after every game, home or away.
Whether it is the Annual Banquet or a football game, the Marching Blue Band is always hungry.
“There is lots going on during game days,” Dr. Drane says. “I like the students to have a hot meal when they leave the Blue Band Building.” There typically are sub sandwiches before the games so, rounded off with hot eats, the students’ nutritional needs are well met. “The students greatly appreciate it,” he adds. “Everyone is thankful.”
Not only is the Band’s 125th a great year in retrospect but it marks a watershed for the Band going forward. First year students had to handle back-to-back away bowl games. Dr. Drane says he is excited to see the level of experience those students will bring back to campus next year.
Registration Link: https://www.psualumnibands.org/event-6104154
