After a brief hiatus from local marching band competitions, the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devil Marching Band is back for a new season, performing its competitive show, “Paint It Black,” at events throughout September and October.

Mt. Lebanon’s marching band has been around for decades, but in recent years, numerous changes to the high school’s music department have helped increase membership and community involvement. Mt. Lebanon Band Builders, a nonprofit booster organization that raises money for the band, is helping build awareness of a side of marching band that co-president Mary Ullman said many community members may not know exists.

“Most people don’t even know that this exists,” Ullman said. “That for one, marching band is actually a competitive activity and that it has its own festivals and competitions, and for two, that the community can go out and support 10 regional marching bands do their thing. It’s a really cool opportunity to experience all the hard work and artistry of these kids.”

Multiple competitive circuits in the Pittsburgh area give high school marching bands opportunities to travel to other districts, perform their shows, watch other bands and receive feedback from judges. One is the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band Association, or PIMBA.

At competitions, bands from schools across southwestern Pennsylvania take the field one after another to perform their shows before fellow musicians, families and spectators.

Mt. Lebanon hosted its own Festival of Bands on Sept. 19. Festivals operate similarly to competitions, though they may not be affiliated with organizations such as PIMBA and do not necessarily involve judging or scoring. Instead, they provide an opportunity for bands, families and communities to gather and support the participating musicians.

“It’s not about the scores,” marching band director Brett McCutcheon said. “Imagine you spend all summer working really, really hard for seven minutes of field time. … It’s energetic, it’s fun, and you get to see students achieving things that you probably didn’t think high schoolers, and sometimes middle schoolers, can achieve.”

McCutcheon began his role as marching band director this year after joining Mt. Lebanon High School as a concert band teacher in 2024. A Mt. Lebanon graduate, he studied music education at Slippery Rock University before returning to the community that helped inspire his career.

“It’s been a great experience,” McCutcheon said. “We’re trying to continue the momentum that we’ve had for the decades before I’ve been here, and the kids have been pretty great at it.”

Katrielle Nicholson, a senior tuba player and the band’s brass captain, joined as a middle school student and is now in her fifth season of marching band. She remembers being drawn to the activity because it offered a new challenge.

“It allowed me to play my instrument in a nontraditional setting and pushed me out of my comfort zone,” Nicholson said.

McCutcheon has also brought changes to music classes offered during the school day at Mt. Lebanon High School. He introduced a music technology course in which students can learn about music production and technology skills that could be useful in pursuing careers in music.

Ullman said that is one example of how McCutcheon has used his expertise to expand opportunities for students.

“He brings a new level of music technology knowledge and education into the program as a whole,” Ullman said.

While recent changes have brought new opportunities to the marching band, Nicholson said the pride and passion its members have for their school remain at the heart of the program.

She plans to continue playing the tuba in college but said she will miss the community she has found in the Blue Devil Marching Band.

“At the end of the day, we’re Lebo marching band,” Nicholson said. “Lebo pride. I get to see all of my favorite people doing my favorite thing. I really think I’m going to miss the community that I found in the marching band.”

The marching band performs throughout the year at numerous community events, from block parties to Earth Day celebrations. Ullman hopes community members will return that support by attending the band’s competitive performances.

“People love seeing it and hearing it,” Ullman said. “The kids are so talented, and I think that to get more community support mirrored back at us, to have more folks come out and support our competitive endeavors, would mean a lot to the kids in the community.”

Find more information about upcoming events, performance schedules and how to donate at www.lebobands.com or @mtlband on Instagram.