The Lyon Pipe Band in Scotland
by Sarah Fendley
Representing Lyon College, Arkansas, and the United States, the Lyon College
Pipe Band attended the World Pipe Band Championship in Glasgow, Scotland at the
beginning of August of this year.
The World Pipe Band Championship is comprised of two parts. The first part,
which serves as the qualifying heat for each grade, is the Musical Appreciation
Performance, or M.A.P., and the finals, in which the top bands from each heat
compete for the trophies. For the Musical Appreciation Performance, the Lyon
band played two marches, with which they placed 2nd. Lyon competed in the finals
that afternoon with the same two marches from that morning, a third similar
march and the Lyon College March, composed by Pipe Major Jimmy Bell specifically
for the Lyon College Pipe Band. Playing these four songs, the Lyon College Pipe
Band placed in the top third of the bands in grade 4A, while also being the only
band from the United States to compete and place in that grade. Not to mention
that Lyon competed with two drummers who had never competed in a pipe band
competition before. The band is made up of students, faculty members, and
community members. Currently Lyon has 8 pipers, 3 snare drummers, 2 tenor
drummers, and the traditional single bass drum.
Though their presence and placement at the World Championships was a great
honor, especially for a small band from Batesville, Arkansas, the Lyon Pipe Band
is no stranger to honors. Just last year Lyon was named the 2005 Southwestern
United States Champions in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as well as winning many other awards
throughout the southern United States. The Lyon College Pipe Band has also been
featured at the Tartan Day Parade in New York City and the St. Patrick’s Day
Parade in Little Rock.
While Lyon’s pipe band is enjoying its success, they are constantly trying to
become better and increase their numbers. As part of this process, the Lyon pipe
band offers two programs: a summer camp held at the college, which people come
from across the United States and the world to attend and teach, and weekly
lessons, also held at the college. Though the summer camp does cost the
individual students, “The college works hard to provide an economic and
successful means to increase growth in Scottish Heritage and the Scottish arts,”
says Lyon piper Cody Wagnon. The camp covers piping, and snare, tenor, and bass
drumming. Though the summer camp does not include highland dancing, it is
offered at the weekly classes held at the Scottish Heritage building at Lyon
College, which are free to anyone who would like to attend. Along with highland
dancing, every Tuesday at 6pm, the Lyon College Pipe Band offers lessons in
piping and drumming free of charge to anyone, though the students must provide
their own practice chanters, which can be found at the Lyon College Bookstore.