Marching band provides a safe place where students can develop discipline, teamwork, and the love of making music together. After two years without a normal season, the members of Penn Manor High School marching band have been able to gather for band camp. From Aug. 2 to 19, the band practiced every week on Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Manor Middle School, 2950 Charlestown Road, Lancaster.

Andrew Johnson, director of Penn Manor High School band, noted that he is looking forward to many things this season. "I think the biggest is providing the students with the opportunity to have a marching band program," he said. "Whatever happens at the end of the day with competitions and placements, that's not the focus. It's about the process and the lessons learned."

Every season, the band typically begins planning a new show in December or January. This year's production is titled "Rebirth." The marching band used in-house designs and wrote its own drills rather than purchasing a stock production. "We're making it appropriate with a physical, group, and personal rebirth of coming out and starting anew," explained Johnson. "We're pulling original material, and one ballad is 'New World' by Icelandic artist Björk." The color guards will have different flags during the performance, and the band will use props, such as mirrors. The band members first learned the music, then the drills, and last brought these two components together.

"I'm impressed and proud of their level of dedication to working so hard after a year that was very challenging and disappointing at the same time," said Johnson. "They were very hungry for a season, even if that meant scaling back the length of the show."

This year's drum major is senior Elizabeth Lebo. Lebo said the role of a drum major is a trinity of conducting, leadership, and teaching. Lebo is responsible for providing commands to the marching band, leading band members while marching, and directing them, by indicating what to play, when to play, and what tempo to keep. In addition, the drum major serves as the liaison between the band director and the band. "Ever since freshman year, I knew I wanted to be drum major," she said. "I'm ready for a great season. By the looks of how we're performing at band camp, we're making a lot of progress and that foreshadows how our season is going to go. It's looking really great!"

To stay updated on the marching band, visit https://blogs.pennmanor.net/johnsona/.