Upcoming events:

Click on Events for Itinerary when they become available!

Saturday, May 24 - Reunion Concert at Coal Festival - Island Park in Blossburg - performances (with guard) at 1:45pm and 2:30pm. Report to Band Room at 9:00am to set up!

August 11-15 - Band Camp - Click here for the Southern Tioga Marching Band Page - Anyone wishing to be in Blue Thunder next winter should be a part of marching band this fall (although not necessarily playing percussion - see Mr. Ruth's latest note below!)

Mr. Ruth's Latest Note:

Posted 5-18-08

OK, we got an overwhelmingly positive response and we're going ahead with our performances on Saturday May 24th - we'll do 2 shows on the football field at 1:45 and 2:30. In order to accomplish this, we'll meet at the school at 9am to take the stuff over to the field (we'll need to caravan it - we don't have a truck!) We'll also try to do a run-through or 2 (since it's been a few weeks) before the parade. To those involved with the parade, we're meeting at the band room at 10:30 and the parade starts at 11. To those who are not involved with the parade (ie Mansfield people) - you're welcome to play with the North Penn Band (dress is blue t-shirt!) Let me know if you'd like to! We also need a few people to stay in the Island with our stuff during the parade, so a few of you will be assigned to do that. At any rate, after the parade, we'll take a lunch break (they'll be selling lots of food around the Coal Festival), and we'll then set up and do our 2 performances. The idea is that people will notice what's happening during the first one, and then word will spread to get a bigger crowd there for the second one. After the second performance, we'll take stuff back to the school and hopefully get out of there shortly after 3.

The only person at this point who I know won't be there is Mike Bailey. He might make it back by our second performance, but we're not counting on it. (He's returning from California that day) Therefore, Andrew will play the melody at the beginning of Halo, but everything else we should make it OK. If there is anyone who won't be there, PLEASE let me know ASAP!

Finally, you should be getting a paper about Southern Tioga Marching Band this fall. Turn that in to your band director by June 2. We're going to try to transfer the momentum and commitment that we've built in Blue Thunder to the marching band as a whole. What that means to you is - I'm counting on you guys to BE THE LEADERS in marching band this fall! To those who play a wind instrument, you'll be especially important in passing that on to the other wind players. Obviously, all of you are now percussionists! However, I'm asking you to consider very strongly that the best thing for the band will probably be you playing your wind instrument for marching band! (Remember, that's why we have indoor drumline, so people can play their wind instrument in marching band and a drum for indoor). Also, encourage your friends who are wind players to come out for marching band - this is going to be a big year as we grow in size, quality, and commitment, and having a more serious marching band is going to be like an extended training session for indoor drumline next year (which will surely rock!) So my point here is - get excited about marching band and pass that on to your friends!

That's all for now. See you at 9am on Saturday at the NPHS band room!

I've posted the Wildwood performance - both in the convention center and in the parking lot on youtube. check it out!

-Mr. Ruth