Joyful Sounds Return to RU

It happened in the early evening on the last week of the spring semester. The sky showed signs of an approaching storm. But rather than thunder, there was another momentous sound. It was the joyful noise of a returning university tradition, the Radford University Highlanders Pipes and Drums. They were doing their first campus walk around.

With support from provost Sam Minner and former CVPA dean Joseph Scartelli, associate music professor Tim Channell has begun reestablishing an ensemble of bagpipers and drummers that will play at RU ceremonial events, local happenings and competitions. This process started in the fall of 2013 with an initial interest meeting and auditions. The band spent the next seven months learning new instruments and Scottish pipe band traditions.

The core group includes: Jake Moles, pipe sergeant; pipers Alyssa Klinksiek, Brian Orcutt and Michael Stump; Jeremy Marks, drum sergeant; Peter Forney, tenor drum; and Colman Guilland, bass drum.

This style of ensemble performance is new to many of the students.

“I became interested in pipe band through my interest in all things related to rudimental snare drumming. It was a style I had yet to explore, so I jumped on the opportunity,” says Jeremy Marks, drum sergeant for the band. He is a junior music business major.

Bringing back the RU Highlanders Pipes and Drums does have it share of challenges. The first is finding time to practice as a group, which becomes more difficult as the group expands. The group now practices Wednesday evenings. This also leads to the second challenge.

“I would like to see the band grow to 12 pipers and eight drummers but that requires capital to purchase equipment and uniforms,” says Channell.

One stand of pipes costs approximately $1200 and one uniform is approximately $600 each. Currently the program has enough uniforms and equipment for six pipers and six drummers.

Channell foresees the need for more funding, “The University was very generous to provide the initial funds to purchase the equipment and uniforms, but in order to grow and, more importantly, to maintain the equipment we have it takes a budget.  We currently do not have budget.”  

The band’s first performance will be during the Radford Highlander Festival Oct.4 and they will also be part of the RU Homecoming Festivities Oct. 10-12.

For more information, check out Highlanders Pipes and Drums Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RUPipesandDrums.