2026, Half the year already!
As we conclude the first half of America’s 250th year, I wanted to reflect on the opportunities and events I’ve been able to participate in. This is now my second season playing with two bands, one of which is a competition band in the Eastern US Pipe Band Association grade IV.
My primary band, Washington Scottish Pipe Band , has performed in a number of parades and formal events ranging from celebrating the birthday of Scotland’s poet, Robert Burns, to participating for our second year in The Washington Tattoo massed pipes and drums. We have celebrated St Patrick’s Day with the Cities of Alexandria, Manassas, and Baltimore; returned to the Falls Church Memorial Day Parade after spending the two previous years in the National Memorial Day Parade in DC; and had planned to participate in the Palisades and Catonsville 4th of July parades but unfortunately had to pull out due to dangerous weather conditions in order to ensure we can return next year. Our formal events have included the Burns Nicht Supper with the St Andrews Society of DC and the British America Business Association, the annual Kirkin’ O’ the Tartan at the National Cathedral in DC, and our second round of the Washington Tattoo joined by Mesa Caledonian Pipe Band from Arizona.
My competition band, MacMillan-Dunn, is the Grade 4 unit of the MacMillan United Pipe Bands. This is my second year competing with the band, as well as the band’s second year competing at Grade 4 after much work to get upgraded at the end of the 2024 competition season. I competed with the band at the Southern Maryland Celtic Festival, Fair Hill Scottish Games, and Hudson Valley Pipe Band Competition. We’re working on our final competitions of the year at Virginia Scottish Games and The Celtic Classic in September. As this season has progressed, we’ve had our ups and downs, and have absolutely come so far from where we were this time last year. I’m looking forward to further progress with the band, and hopefully we can make our way to Maxville in Canada and/or the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland in the next couple years.
Finale at the Washington Tattoo 250 Experience at Lisner Auditorium.
