About the Band

 

Our Band:
Private Wedding, Fremont, CA 2006	The band is funded solely through performance fees and donations.  There are no fees to join or membership dues.  Membership to the band is open to all, regardless of age, gender, or race.   Uniforms and drums are provided.  We also have a limited number of bagpipes available to students.    We rehearse every Tuesday night from 7:30 pm to 9:45 pm at the Broadmoor Presbyterian Church on 377   87th Street, Daly City, California  94015.   Rehearsals are generally open, so if you want to drop by and watch you are welcome.  You may wish to call Ken Snodgrass at 415.566.7237 first to confirm.
Our History:
The Stewart Tartan Pipes and Drums was founded in San Francisco in January 1980.  The two major tenants of the Stewart Tartan Pipes and Drums were then, and are now, that this activity should be enjoyable and educational.  While the band did compete in Scottish Highland games in the early years, performances have evolved into mostly non-competitive community-based and private functions.  Since 1980 we have played at a variety of public events in the Bay Area, including performances for the Alzheimer's Memory Walk, annual  Portuguese Pentecost Festivals,  athletic events (Bay to Breakers Run, Nike 26.2 Marathon (2004), S.F. Giants Playoff Pre-game (2002), Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon),  community festivals (Pacifica Fog Fest, SF Flower Show), and holiday events (St. Patrick's Day Parades, Skylawn Memorial Day, Piedmont's 4th of July Parade, and various Christmas parades.)  The band has also worked with many civic and public service organizations including the Alzheimer's Association, the Alameda Chapter of the American Heart Association, the Special Olympics, and the Recreation Center for the Handicapped. Some of the notable historical performances of the Stewart Tartan Pipes and Drums include performing at the SF Giants 9/11 Pre-game memorial service, the Louise Davies Symphony Hall,  the Grace Cathedral, the Carmel Outdoor Theater Summer Festival.  Moreover, members of the band have also played for H. R. H. The Prince of Wales several years ago.  The band has been on television several times including a local program on piping history and technique. The band has performed in many parades, fairs, art shows, corporate promotions, conventions, parties, weddings, receptions, graduations, funerals, and other similar events.		French Hospital, S.F. 1980
Our Tunes:   Our repertoire includes quick marches, slow marches, strathspeys and reels. We emphasize the traditional pipe music and try to include some interesting, less well-known tunes together with the popular standards.  Tunes currently include:  Scotland the Brave, Black Bear, Green Hills, Liberton Pipe band, 79th's Farewell to Gibraltar, Atholl Highlanders, Barren Rocks of Aden, Keel Row, Piper of Drummond, and many others.    We include a brass ensemble for our holiday concerts and have our band dancers available for select performances.		NIKE Marathon, S.F., 2006

Our Uniform:
Summer Uniform	The band utilizes two different uniforms depending on the occasion and the weather.   The Stewart Tartan Pipes and Drums is one of the few pipe bands that performs in Scottish Military Full Dress.    One of the many notable features of our band is that uniforms (except shoes) are provided.  This is remarkable since a Full Dress uniform will cost in the neighborhood of $2,500. The band also has a summer uniform consisting of a navy blue military style shirt combined with headgear comprised the Glengarry.	Full Dress

 

The Tartans:
	Pipers wear the Royal Stewart tartan.  In addition  to the kilt, pipers wear black military doublets with silver braid and hunter green piping, full plaids (pronounced "played") and feather bonnets.		Drummers wear the Hunting Stewart tartan.  In addition  to the kilt, drummers wear black military doublets with silver braid and hunter green piping, They also wear the drummer's (or belted) plaid and feather bonnets

Our Drill:

We are one of the few bands that works on drill and deportment on a regular basis.  Our drill is slightly modified from British military techniques and is practiced nearly every week.  Often we use specially choreographed street drill in the larger parades.  Our band has never placed lower than first place in all the parades attended since 1993 including two S.F. St. Patrick's Day Parades (1st place pipe band), two Los Gatos Christmas Parades (1st place pipe band), and several others.  We routinely receive compliments on our bearing and professionalism.

Piedmont 4th of July, 1999

Page Maintained by: Paul Olson