What Maureen O’Connor wants people to know about her dedicated group of bagpipe players is that they are not what you might think. The Scotia-Glenville-based group is made up of young musicians who are scholars, athletes and, most importantly to O’Connor, accomplished bagpipe players. The days of old men in kilts being the only ones who can produce the beloved sound are over, and O’Connor said the proof is in the sound.
People may not always know just how incredible it is that these young kids are keeping up this tradition and doing it well, said O’Connor.
O’Connor said it’s a major commitment that has landed the group among the best in the world in places like Glasgow, Scotland, where they placed third two years ago. The group of 25 teens will travel there once again this summer to compete in an elite meeting of dedicated players.
O’Connor said while the band is based out of Scotia-Glenville, it consists of kids from all over the Capital District, including Niskayuna, Scotia-Glenville, Bethlehem and Saratoga County. The band also has players from as far away as Syracuse, Cape Cod, Vermont and even a player from Texas who travels to the Capital District once a month for practice.
`All of our efforts and focus this year are preparing mentally, physically, musically and financially for this all-important trip,` O’Connor said.
Colin Wilson, a member of the band, said his biggest challenges have centered on balancing the amount of commitment it takes to play, but he said in the end it has all been worth the effort.
`An hour a day on the pipes can be hard to do sometimes,` said Wilson. `Because of the pipes, I get to travel to other states and countries to compete, and meet new people. As for the Worlds this summer, everyone is excited and confident, but we’re not being stupid about it. Everyone’s working as hard as they can, and when we go over to Scotland, we’re going to do our best, and whatever happens, happens.`
The band will be playing Friday, March 6, at Scotia-Glenville High School as a kick-off concert to show the community what they will be bringing to the competition and promote the group’s first CD. Sales from the CD will help fund the band, which is not part of the district’s music curriculum or music department. In addition to CD sales, the band relies solely on private funding and some state grants.
The band will also play at the upcoming Irish America Festival in Herkimer, as well as parades through the spring and summer seasons.
Band member and Schalmont student Hayden LaBelle, 15, said he joined the group two years ago in the beginner class before working up to the Grade III Band.
`The Scotia Glenville Pipe Band is great in that everyone is so nice to one another,` said LaBelle. `We have formed a great bond that we will hold for many years after we have moved on from this band. The band did great last year, and I think we are going to have another good year.`
Labelle said the main goal is to focus on perfecting the music for competitions this summer and, ultimately, the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow in August.
`All of us are working our hardest to achieve this goal. The thing I cherish the most about this band is being a drummer, picking up my drum sticks every Wednesday night and working with some really great guys that have turned out to be my best friends,` said LaBelle.
In Scotland, the band will compete against juvenile bands from around the world, a rarity on this side of the Atlantic. In the United States, there are few juvenile bands whose members can only be 18 years old or younger.
For information contact Maureen O’Connor at 374-6034 or by e-mail at meO’[email protected].“