Bagpipe News

The Knights of Columbus 126 Pipes and Drums Band is looking for new members to help keep the Band active in the local, national and European community and would be interested in hearing from anyone interested in joining. We are especially interested in experienced players. We do provide instruction for pipers and drummers, from novices on up.

Our Pipe instructor Matthew Welch has studied traditional Highland Bagpipe music with Gold Medalist masters such as Colin MacLellan, Jack Lee, Angus MacLellan and Andrew Wright. Matthew also was a member of the four - time World Champion Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, having played with the band on their most recent World Championship wins in 1999 and 2001. He has had a successful professional solo piping career within and beyond the traditional setting. Matthew holds two university degrees in Music Composition, a BFA from Simon Fraser University (1999), and an MA form Wesleyan University (2001) and also has premiered a number of new compositions written for bagpipes by contemporary composers, further linking his piping to his broader musical career as a composer and multi-instrumentalist. His unique approach to the bagpipe and its music has made him in demand as an instructor along the East Coast. He is available for private instruction.

We are a Band of mostly adult players, ranging in age from mid-20’s to mid 70’s. Younger players are also welcome. To pay us a visit, drop in at the Knights of Columbus Columbus Counsel #126 located at 3051 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn, NY, any non-holiday Monday night around 7:00. Practices normally run from 7:30 until 10:00 p.m.

Register with the Band community forum and join our discussion board.

Map of 3051 nostrand ave brooklyn ny
Driving Directions

Over intensive logging of the wood that is used in making bagpipes faces being wiped out.. Read the entire story

Environment Africa Trust (EAT) are seeking information on the market for instruments made from African Blackwood - primarily bagpipes, oboes and clarinets but also a number of less well known woodwind instruments. Their objective is to explore the prospects for instruments made from certified sources of African Blackwood, sold with a small green premium for ensuring timber from a environmentally sustainable and socially ethical source. If you are a musician and would like to help them, by filling in their musicians survey, please email enquiries@environmentafricatrust.org.uk with the subject heading ‘musician’. If you are a retailer, you may wish to fill in the retailers version; using the same email address with the header ‘retailer’. Deadline for completed forms to be returned to Environment Africa Trust is 17^th December 2007, 5pm. UK retailers only please at this stage. With thanks, EAT staff.