‘Pipe,’ ‘Pipe,’ Hooray!

MC Pipe Band takes first place

by Dustin Looney
Courier Staff

In keeping Monmouth College’s strong Scottish heritage alive, MC’s distinguished Pipe Band took first place at the Loch Norman Highland Games Saturday, April 22, in Huntersville, N.C.

Traveling on two buses, the band left Thursday, April 20, and returned to Monmouth the following Sunday; the trip took 16 hours each way.

The band members were very excited going into the competition, but tried to keep a level head.

“I was expecting that we would do well, but you never know what will happen on the day. I just wanted us to play to our potential,” said senior David Danaher, the band’s pipe sergeant.

Junior Ian Wallace, the band’s pipe major, said, “This is the first trophy the Monmouth College Pipe Band has ever won, and with many world-class players returning next year, we should be able to bring more hardware to the school for many years to come.”

Competing among 18 bands, the competition consisted of three divisions, which were based on the band’s ability, and the MC Pipe Band was placed in the middle division. Each band played one three to five-minute medley that consisted of multiple tunes.

Due to its first place finish, the MC Pipe Band has put the college on the map for piping.

“This shows people there is more to the band than playing at Monmouth football games and we’re getting quite good. It also will help us get our name out to North America and attract some better players,” said sophomore Neil MacPherson.

“It feels great to win a trophy for Monmouth College and to show we have a good pipers program,” added freshman Matt Karner.

In addition to the Pipe Band’s remarkable accomplishment, junior Grant Maxwell, the band’s drum sergeant, was rewarded for his personal efforts.

Maxwell won the “Drummer of the Day” award, beating out all of the drummers in the competition.
On a more personal note, the competition also provided a good farewell to the band’s seniors.

“Personally, it was a good way to end my time in the Pipe Band at Monmouth; as a band, it was a testimony to all our hard work and a good way to represent Monmouth College,” said Danaher.

Although the Highland Games are the only competition in which the MC Pipe Band participates, many of the band members enter competitions over the summer and have been playing their instruments for many years.

Danaher is one such example, since he has been playing the bagpipes since the age of nine.

The band has competed in the Highland Games in three of the last four years. They previously failed to place twice and placed third in the other year, respectively.

The MC Pipe Band consists of 14 members, nine bagpipers and five drummers: David Danaher, Matt Danaher, Steve Distin, Karner, MacPherson, Maxwell, Luke Morgan, Mark Mullaney, Jim O’Brien, Blair Stewart, Tim Tibbetts (advisor), Erick Thronson, Ian Wallace and Alison Warren.

The MC Pipe Band, which was established more than 50 years ago, is part of a relatively exclusive group of colleges that offers scholarships to its members.