St. Thomas' Episcopal School Pipe Band | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Established | 1963 |
Location | Houston, TX |
Grade | Juvenile, 2, 3 |
Pipe major | Rohit Rajendran |
Drum sergeant | Andrew Listi |
Tartan | Hunting MacPherson |
Notable honours | Winner, Juvenile World Pipe Band Championship: 1985, 1995, 1998, 2004, 2006 |
Summary
editThe St. Thomas' Episcopal School Pipe Band is a part of the music program of St. Thomas' Episcopal School, a K-12 independent school in the Houston, Texas, United States area. Founded 1955, the school has A, B and C pipe bands, not unlike other high school and college marching bands. Under the leadership of Mike Cusack, the band won its first Juvenile category World Championship in 1985 and its second in 1995. They have since competed in the World Championships periodically, winning in 1998, 2004 and 2006. In competitions outside the Juvenile category, the band will compete in Grade 2 or 3. Its most recent accomplishment was winning the North American Championships in Grade 3 in Maxville, Ontario, in 2008; and in competition, the pipe band competed at North Berwick and Bridge of Allan on their 2010 trip to Scotland and won grade 2 for the first time at both competitions.
History
editThe St. Thomas' Episcopal School Pipe Band began in the early 1960s when the school's founding Rector, The Reverend T. Robert Ingram, decided he wanted a school band with a distinctive identity. Mr. Ingram contacted Pipe Major Donald Shaw Ramsey, who was then living in California. He came to the school for a number of years to conduct two-week workshops. The church organist, John Moseley, began to learn the pipes so he could teach the students in Ramsey's absence, and the school's Headmaster, Henry L. Walters, Jr., began teaching the drums.
Through the years several instructors have been through the Scottish Arts program, but it was not until Mike Cusack took charge that the program evolved to what it is today. During his 22-year role as band director, Mr. Cusack led the band to 4 world championships and produced three albums.
The St. Thomas' Episcopal School Pipe Band is now under the directorship of Harry Isensee, since 2010, and Lyric Todkill, since 2005. It has grown to become one of the world's most respected pipe bands, winning the Juvenile World Pipe Band Championships in 1985, 1995, 1998, 2004,[1] and 2006.[2] The Band performs throughout the community. Through its history, the band has played for, the halftime shows at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee and at Reliant Center for the Houston Texans game, The MD Anderson Children’s Art Project, The Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Houston Blood Center. It has also performed for Queen Elizabeth II and President George Bush.
Program
editUpon reaching the fourth grade, boys and girls are given the opportunity to take bagpiping or snare drumming as part of their curriculum.
Although many are familiar with only the “A” Band (When not competing at a local competition, the A band is referred to as the general name of the band), St. Thomas’ employs a feeder system that graduates students through the ranks to the highest level. Below the “A” Band are the “B” and “C” Bands. The “C” Band comprises younger students that are new to the pipes or drums. Their goal is to improve enough to play in the annual Scottish Festival and then join the “B” Band. Once in the “B” Band, students have the opportunity to compete at local Highland games in Salado and Houston, TX.
Scottish Festival
editEvery year in the spring the St. Thomas' Episcopal School holds a show with all of the pipers, drummers, and highland dancers from the school. In the past the show had been performed at the old Sam Houston Coliseum, the Summit, and the Toyota Center, now it is held at the Wortham Center in Houston.
Recordings
edit- Dedication (2000)
- Impressions (2004)
These CDs include many favorites from past Scottish Festivals and other traditional and contemporary tunes. Both CDs were awarded "Pipe Band Recording of the Year" by Pipes|Drums Magazine.[3] Currently, the band is finishing up a third album.
Faculty
editLyric Todkill - Band Director/Piping Instructor; Carnegie Mellon University
Harry Isensee - Piping Instructor
Blair Brown - Drumming Director
Brandon Thomas - Drumming Instructor
Past Pipe Majors, Pipe Sergeants, & Drum Sergeants
edit1992-1994: PM - Jeremy Freeman, DS - Chris Spisak
2000-2001: PM - Greg Friehauf, DS - Neil Krugh
2001-2002: PM - Kevin James, PS - Dan Fields, DS - Neil Krugh
2002-2003: PM - Alex Drecun, DS - Zach Goodrick
2003-2004: PM - Alex Drecun, DS - Zach Goodrick
2004-2005: PM - Matthew Drecun, PS - Taylor Williams, Andres Cardona, DS - Zach Goodrick
2005-2006: PM - Matthew Drecun, PS - Sean Windsor, DS - Zach Goodrick
2006-2007: PM - Michael Kenny, PS - James Wakeland, Ben Buckner, DS - Brian Mathews
2007-2008: PM - James Milikan, PS - Joseph Doyle, DS - Brian Mathews
2008-2009: PM - Ethan Crownover, PS - Kirtan Brahmbhatt, DS - Nader Girgawy
2009-2010: PM - Jacob Bowers, PS - Michael Listi, DS - Nader Girgawy
2010-2011: PM - Michael Hrncir, PS - Anthony Masterson, Andrew Coulter, DS - Nader Girgawy
2011-2012: PM - James McMurray, PS - Rohit Rajendran, DS - Andrew Listi
2012-2013: PM - Rohit Rajendran, PS - Travis Franklin, DS - Andrew Listi
2013-2014: PM - Andrew Calvert, PS - Jess Wakeland, DS - Eric Yang
- please fill in if you know any others
Past Bass Drummers
edit1980-1981: Mark Aitala
1988-1990: Jason Moore
1990-1991: Thomas Watts
1991-1992: Jack Fraser
1992-1994: J. Witte III & John Cocke
1995-1998: Terry Christie
1998-1998: Michael Stumpf
1998-2003: Brian Morrison
2003-2007: James Lawrence
2008-2010: Anthony Franklin
2010-2012: Harry Isensee
2012–Present: Peter Bauer
References
edit- ^ RSPBA. World Pipe Band Championship Results, 2004 Aug. 14, 2004. Retrieved May 29, 2012
- ^ RSPBA. World Pipe Band Championship Results, 2006 Aug. 12, 2006. Retrieved May 29, 2012
- ^ Pipes|Drums. "Annual New Year's Honours." Pipes|Drums. Andrew Berthoff. Dec. 30, 2004. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1963]] [[Category:Pipe bands]] [[Category:World Pipe Band Championships winners]]