Eighty-nine years of pride and tradition.

Those are some rather lofty expectations for the Tamaqua Area High School Raider Marching Band to live up to.With more band members than ever, the band is revitalized and anxious to meet those expectations, according to band director Mark Beltz.Beltz, who has been band director for the past six years, said there are 175 members in the band. Of those, 115 are high school students, and the other 60 are from the middle school."Over the past six seasons, the Raider Band has grown from the upper 140s to its current number," Beltz said. "The students enjoy being a part of the organization. It's an outlet for their musical performance, whether it be through an instrument, or use of a prop for the band front."Beltz said he attributes the band's growth to the group's strong history."I have found that many of the students have had parents and grandparents that were a part of the organization," he said. "That definitely helps with getting kids into the group.""Also, I try to make the Raider Band fun and inviting to all of the students," Beltz said. "I give the kids the opportunity to make suggestions for the show. This includes dances, horn motion. I want them to take ownership of their performance."That is exactly what members of the band have done, according to Senior George Hegedus, who is president of the band."It's a totally new band," Hegedus said. "I think we've grown as players, and we have a little bit more fun."Hegedus said he believes Beltz is to thank for that."I think Mr. Beltz as band director has changed a lot," he said. "Getting Mr. Beltz was a very positive change."Hegedus said he looks forward to band practice."It's a really big part of my school day," he said. "I'm so happy that we have such a great program, and I think we're really lucky."Classmate Allie Gerber said she believes the students mesh well together."We definitely have learned to work more together as a group," Gerber said. "It's not focused on one person, but the group as a whole."Fellow senior Sarah Miller said performing for the band is a real treat."Now we have a stronger relationship with each other, and everybody gets along better," Miller said. "I enjoy the football games and getting to perform that night."Beltz said he usually tries to pick a classical and/or Broadway show number because "I feel that the students need to perform classical literature. However, I also like to include modern pop music that the kids enjoy."The band's field show for the following year includes "Excerpts from the Firebird Suite," "Uma Thurman," "Shut Up and Dance" and "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's Symphony No. 9."I can't tell you how awesome it feels to see these kids perform on Friday night," he said. "I am so fortunate that I can work with these students. They are absolutely amazing."Beltz said that before becoming band director, he was assistant band director starting in 2000. He is the 10th band director since the band formed in 1927.With the exception of his percussion instructor, Beltz said all of the band staff are Raider Band alumni."I'm fortunate because two of the past directors were my teachers, and one I worked with before taking the job at the high school," he said. "This helps me with instilling in the kids 89 years of pride and tradition."Beltz said the band is scheduled to travel to Florida, and will be there from Feb. 14-18.He said the band will then perform in the Magic Kingdom at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 16.This will mark the Raider Band's seventh trip to Florida since 1985, Beltz said.