Twenty-four seniors, 16 juniors, 21 sophomores, 22 freshmen and four eighth-graders. Sixty-eight musicians, 13 members of the color guard and six support members. Thirty-five leaders, including drum majors Lily Babione and Cameron Bibich.

But who are these 87 members of the Manheim Township (MT) marching band, really?

"Band programs don't just happen," said Scott Siegel, the director of MT's marching band. "There are certain kinds of kids and families drawn to the band program. They tend to be kids who have learned patience and persistence. I've got some of the highest academic achievers in the building. They are also involved in all manners of other activities. They're very active kids. They're very involved kids and their families are very supportive, and they're some of the nicest and most polite kids you'll ever hang around with."

The 13-week 2024 Manheim Township marching band season will formally step off this week. After 12 days of practice at summer camp, the Blue Streaks will perform publicly for the first time on Thursday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m. during the ensemble's annual community night at the high school stadium, 115 Blue Streak Blvd., Lancaster.

The following evening, Friday, Aug. 23, the band will present its eight-minute field show at Cumberland Valley High School during the MT football team's season-opening away contest.

"For me, the performances are checkpoints - 'Are we learning? Are we progressing?'" said Siegel. "For the kids, it's about the adrenaline rush. If all you ever did was practice, how fun would that be? For parents, it's when they get to see their kids (perform). That's one of the ways parents stay connected."

"What's good about this band is that there's a lot of teamwork," said Cameron. "Everyone works on building each other up, not tearing each other down. We're serious, but we have fun with it. We work on the show the whole year. But it's not about the product; it's about the process of what we do."

The Blue Streaks' marching band season will feature 10 football game performances and four noncompetitive Saturday showcase events, including Showcase in Sight and Sound, which it will host on Sept. 28. Special events during the season will include performances at the Ephrata Fair Parade near the end of September; a second community night at home on Tuesday, Oct. 22; and a season-ending showcase at McCaskey on Saturday, Oct. 26.

"For some of these (students), this is the hardest thing they've ever done," said Siegel. "My goal is to create a safe space where these students can be themselves and have no fear of making mistakes. My ultimate goal is to provide a space where they can flourish."

The Blue Streaks marching band's 2024 field show is titled "Color Our World." It will feature tunes from iconic rock groups such as Chicago, Electric Light Orchestra, the Moody Blues and the Rolling Stones.

"Each year, we customize a show for the group we have and their talents," said Siegel. "We're trying to make sure the audience recognizes the show. We want the audience to get it. We're also trying to build a show that the students love to play and practice. We're trying to pick music that is fun for them. The third consideration is what we have done before."

"(Band) is both learning and an experience," added Siegel. "I want (the students) to be better people. I want them to discover who they are and what they are capable of. Growing people is kind of the product here. I couldn't tell you the show we did a few years ago, but I remember the kids."