Weston McEwen Pipe Band
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| Established | 1953
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| Location | Athena, Oregon
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| Grade | N/A (High School)
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| Website | [1] |
The Weston McEwen Pipes, Drums, and Military Band is a High School pipe band located in Athena, Oregon. The group was established as a girl’s pep band and highland dancing team in 1953.
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[edit] History
In 1952, a girl’s pep band was organized at Weston McEwen High School in Athena, Oregon. Attempting to continue the community’s Scottish heritage, six girls were selected annually as a highland dancing team. Called the “Highland Lassies”, they performed the Highland Fling to the school band at sports events. In 1958, the group acquired a set of pipes – the school’s first piper, Janet Johnson, played in public with the dancers in 1960. By 1970, the school had four sets of Great Highland Bagpipes.
The most progress by the band started under the tenure of director Steve Pyle, who immediately set out to form a regular Pipe Band. Though his military service interrupted his attempts, his return in 1972 brought a change from a girl’s dancing team to a full-fledged pipes and drums unit. Fourteen sets of pipes were acquired thanks to fundraising, along with drums to accompany them. Though at first, Pyle had no knowledge of the bagpipes, late piper John McEwing took an interest in the band and occasionally stopped by to motivate. In 1980, the first male players joined and the group’s name was officially changed to the Weston McEwen Pipes and Drums.
The band made its first appearance in Europe in June, 2005, when the group took a twelve-day tour of Scotland and England. The trip included performances at the Hazelhead Games in Aberdeen, in Crieff with the local youth band and at Warwick Castle.
Steve Pyle retired from teaching in 2000. He is still involved with the program and assists the weekly training of new pipers and drummers, as well as accompanies the group on tours as a piper. The current Director is Rob McIntyre.
[edit] Directors
- Steve Pyle, 1968–2000
- Rob McIntyre, 2000–
