This article was originally published at statecollege.com

The Penn State Blue Band celebrates 125 years this year, but the Blue Band is made up of more than just musicians. There is the Auxiliary, which includes The Silks, Majorettes, Feature Twirler and Drum Major. Today we celebrate the Blue Band Majorettes!

The Majorettes can trace their origin to one person, Judy (Shearer) Lawrence.

In 1972, the Blue Band had no females, it was an all-male group. The band also did not have any majorettes. Title IX had just been enacted and it was the perfect time for (Shearer) Lawrence to approach the then Director of the Blue Band Jim Dunlop about adding a squad of majorettes.

(Shearer) Lawrence convinced Dunlop to come watch her twirl and so, in the basement of the music building (Music Building I), she auditioned. Because the ceiling was so low, she could not throw her baton too far up, but Dunlop was impressed none the less.

He agreed to add a squad of 12 majorettes and (Shearer) Lawernce found 60 other twirlers on campus. Dunlop chose 11 of those 60 to join her to create a full squad of Penn State Majorettes.

The name “Touch of Blue” was not used until 1978. As explained by two Majorettes at the time, Carol Kean and Sherry Erb. They were at the Corner Room with Dr Deihl (Director of the Blue Band) and Dr Ramsey (Assistant Director of the Blue Band) before the 1978 season. Dr. Deihl wanted the majorettes and feature twirler to have a special name. Erb suggested the majorettes be called the Sapphires. That is her birthstone, and she had her birthstone ring on, so that’s how Erb came up with the idea. When they left the meeting, Kean and Erb thought the majorettes were going to be the Sapphires and were surprised when they were announced as the “Touch of Blue!” at the next game. The Feature Twirler would be known as the “Star Sapphire” and later “Blue Sapphire”.

The majorettes have changed uniforms over the years and during the 1980’s, the uniforms were white with just a “Touch of Blue” on them.

From 1999 to 2019, the Touch of Blue were dominant in the world of collegiate twirling. In those 20 years, the majorettes won the National Collegiate Championship in Dance and Twirl 16 times.

Currently, the Touch of Blue is under the direction of April Gable, Assistant Director of Annual Leadership Gifts at the Pennsylvania State University. Gable was previously a Feature Twirler with the University of Cincinnati Bearcat Marching Band.

This article was originally published at statecollege.com