The Blue Band is open to all students at the Penn State University Park Campus by competitive audition.

The Blue Band traces its history to 1899 with the formation of a six-member drum and bugle corps initiated by student George H. Deike.

A donation from steel magnate and Penn State College Board of Trustees member Andrew Carnegie made possible the formation of a brass band in the summer of 1901.

[citation needed]During succeeding eras in which Hummel (Hum) Fishburn (1939–1947), James W. Dunlop (1947–1975), Ned C. Deihl (1975–1996), O. Richard Bundy (1996–2015) served as directors,[3] the name Penn State Blue Band was kept even though all members were uniformed in blue.

The band has also performed at the Outback, Blockbuster, Holiday, Pinstripe, and Peach Bowls, and for the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football.

The Blue Band marched in the Bicentennial Constitution Celebration Parade held in Philadelphia in 1987, and made its first appearance in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena on January 2, 1995, having made several additional appearances since.

[citation needed]Since July 2015, the band has been led by its sixth director, Dr. Gregory Drane.