Band History

1933-1934.  The following description of the band appeared in the high school yearbook, The Leonian:  "The Band under the direction of Miss Ruth Whitmore, while not having an extremely active year, made an impressive showing when it appeared in full uniform at the various home football games last fall.  The new band uniforms do ample justice to the organization.  The last of the debt remaining on the outfits was removed by using the proceeds of the three-act play, "Clarence," presented in the Municipal Building by the faculty of the high school on October 11-12, 1933."

1934.  The very first public concert performed was held on March 11, 1934 in the Red Lion Opera House which eventually became known as the Municipal Building on the corner of First Avenue and Charles Street.  The building is now the Opera House Apartments.

1935.  The band marches in its first parade ever in Red Lion Borough.

1936.  "Leo the Lion" arrives at Red Lion.

1940.  Band concerts are broadcast on WOYK 1350 AM radio in York.  Both a separate Concert Band and Marching Band are created.  The first jazz group called the Dance Band is formed.

1956.  A number of small performing groups are created as an outgrowth of the bands.

1959.  The first advanced music courses are offered.  They included Music Theory and Music Appreciation.

1960.  The Band Parent's Club is officially formed.

1969.  The Marching Band travel to Hartman Center in Milroy, PA for the first band camp away from school.  The first combined band and choir Christmas concert was held.

1971.  The Symphonic Band was created as an elective and put into the curriculum thus giving the high school three major performing ensembles;  Marching Band, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band.  The "Pops" Concert series began with a Fall, Winter, and Spring "Pops" Concert.  On December 22nd, the Modern Music Masters (Tri-M) Society No. 1238 was created.

1972.  The first Tri-M recital was held in January.

1973.  The first Tri-M honorary member was presented to George A. Ward.  Camelot is the first all-school musical production done on the high school stage.  The Band Parent's Club adopt their first Constitution.

1974.  A second jazz band is formed called the Stage Band. 

1975.  The annual awards ceremony and the Night of Music is expanded to the Weekend of Music.  The Marching Band took their first large trip to Orlando, Florida.

1979.  The PMEA Lower District 7 Band was hosted at Red Lion.

1980.  The Symphonic Band and Marching Band traveled out of the country for the first time to Mexico City, Mexico.

1982.  The Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble perform at the opening week of the World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee.

1983.  Sound Spectacular is created originally for a college band exhibition.

1984.  The Marching Band and Symphonic Band travel to Los Angeles, California for their third large trip.  Sound Spectacular is converted into a marching band exhibition for York County non-competing bands,

1985.  The Marching Band staff adds two assist band director and two colorguard instructors

1987.  The Marching Band travels to Dallas, Texas to perform in their first ever bowl game, the Cotton Bowl.  The band marched in the Cotton Bowl Parade and was nationally televised for the first time.

1989.  The first Drum Corps International show is hosted at Horn Field during the summer and was sponsored by the Band Parent's Club.

1991.  A jazz combo appears at the high school for the first time.

1992.  The Marching Band and Symphonic Band travels to Orlando, Florida to participate in Disney Magical Music Days.

1995.  The Marching Band and Symphonic Band repeat their trip from 1992 and travel to Orlando, Florida to participate in Disney Magical Music Days.

1998.  The new band room is completed and the building renovation is dedicated by a Symphonic Band concert on September 20, 1998.

1999.  The Marching Band and Symphonic Band travel to Hollywood, California to participate in the Hollywood Christmas Parade which is nationally televised.  The band performed for over 1,000,000 spectators lining the streets on the parade route in Hollywood.

2000.  The completion of a $1 million total renovation to the auditorium is complete and the auditorium is dedicated to the school with a concert on December 3, 2020.  The Band Parent's Club host the Cavalcade of Bands Championships at Horn Field.

2001.  The Marching Lions begin competing in the Cavalcade of Bands circuit and finishes last in every competition during the season.  The Marching Band Staff is increased by adding a percussion position.  The Band Parent's Club hosts their first Music in Motion competitive marching band show. 

2003.  The Marching Band and Symphonic Band take their second trip to Hollywood, California to participate in the Hollywood Christmas Parade to be televised live on CBS.

2004.  The PMEA Region V Band Festival was hosted at Red Lion.  A Roarin' Night of Music is held with the the Red Lion Area Educational Foundation as a fundraiser.

2006.  They Symphonic Band performs for the Manufacturer's Association of South Central Pennsylvania and is greeted by guest speaker Newt Gingrich. 

2007.  The Marching Band and Symphonic Band travel to San Diego, CA to perform in the Holiday Bowl and march in the Big Bay Balloon Parade where the group took home first place.

2008.  The Marching Lions place first in the Cavalcade of Bands Yankee "A" Conference taking home their first championship.

2009.  The Senior High Jazz Ensemble holds a 75th Anniversary concert featuring the Elementary Jazz Band, the Junior High Jazz Band, and an Alumni Jazz Ensemble.  The new high school is dedicated with a concert by the Symphonic Band on May 17, 2009.

2010.  The Symphonic Band and Spring Garden Band hold a joint concert as a community outreach and fund raiser for the bands.

2011.  The Marching Lions place first in the Cavalcade of Bands Liberty "A" Conference taking home their second championship.

2012.  The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) names the Red Lion Area School District as one of the "Best Communities for Music Education in America."

2013.  For the second year in a row, NAMM names the Red Lion Area School District as one of the "Best Communities for Music Education in America."

2014.  The Marching Lions place first in the Cavalcade of Bands Yankee "A" Conference taking home their third championship.

2014.  For the third year in a row, NAMM names the Red Lion Area School District as one of the "Best Communities for Music Education in America."  The Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble travel to Nashville, Tennessee and record 4 pieces of music at Third Man Recording Studios onto two 45 records and perform at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

2015.  The Red Lion Band hosts the 2015 York County Honor Band Festival under the direction of Jim Colonna from York College.

2016.  The band travels to San Antonio, Texas to perform in the San Antonio Fiesta Parade.  Each member of the band must be illuminated while participating in the night time Fiesta Parade.  The band is televised in Texas and performs live for over 785,000 people lining the streets of San Antonio during the course of the parade.

2018.  For the seventh year in a row, NAMM names the Red Lion Area School District as one of the "Best Communities for Music Education in America." 

2018.  The Marching Lions celebrate their 50th Annual Band Camp at Hartman Center in Milroy, PA in Mifflin County. 

2019.  The Red Lion Area Symphonic Band and the Spring Garden Band of York perform a joint concert in April of 2019.  

2019.  The Marching Lions compete in the Cavalcade of Band Championships at West Chester University on a cold and windy afternoon.  The band finishes in 1st place in the Yankee "A" Division and wins their 4th Championship since beginning to compete in 2001.

2020.  The Marching Lions travel to New Orleans to participate in Mardi Gras.  The band marches in the Krewe of Endymion Parade to thousands of spectators.  

2020. For the ninth year in a row, NAMM names the Red Lion Area School District as one of the "Best Communities for Music Education in America."

2020.  COVID-19 interrupts the educational process and all schools close on March 13, 2020.  Students do not return for the remainder of the year.  The band students miss out on Prom, a Tradition Commencement Ceremony, the final Spring Band Concerts, and the Band Awards Ceremony is done virtually via YouTube.  The shutdown happens exactly one week following the end of the All-School Musical.  The return to the SHS building is unknown with the upcoming summer and fall band schedule in question as to when music activities will begin again.

2020.  Band camp at Hartman Center ends as the Penn Central Conferences shutters the camp and puts Hartman Center up for sale.

2020.  Due to the pandemic, band camp is held at the SHS for the first time and the band only performs at home football games.  During this year, the band participated in virtual competitions through the Cavalcade of Bands Association.  Concerts were limited to only one group performing at a time with audience members limited to parents and spread out throughout the auditorium.  However, this began the advent of streaming in our senior high school auditorium.

2021.  A new home for band camp is found!  Camp Sequanota in Jennerstown, PA is the new home of band camp for the Marching Lions!  A larger dining hall, additional number of cabins, larger swimming pool, and larger facilities made the change a smooth one for students who were only familiar with Hartman Center.

2022.  The entire music department travels together for the first time!  In April of 2022, the Marching Lions, Symphonic Band, Concert Choir, & Orchestra made their first ever trip together to Disney in Orlando, Florida.

2023.  The first all-inclusive small ensemble trip happens.  The Jazz Ensemble, Madrigal Choir, and Chamber Orchestra travel together as an entire department on a performance trip to Williamsburg, VA.

2023.  The music department begins to offer a one-day field trip to students who performed in any of the major ensembles (band, choir, orchestra) to New York City to see a Broadway show.  This is something which is planned to be offered to students every year.

2024.  Founded on the success of the first group music department trip, the ensembles travel again together to Charlestown, SC and then to Universal Studios in Florida.  Performing groups were the Marching Lions, Symphonic Band, Concert Choir, & Orchestra.