CEDAR FALLS, IOWA (July 12, 2014) – Local pipers and drummers stepped up to fill a void in the 2014 Iowa Irish Fest opening ceremonies. Because of a schedule conflict, the Iowa Scottish Pipes & Drums of Des Moines declined this year’s invitation.
With the Iowa Scottish Pipes & Drums unavailable, Irish Fest committee members needed to look no further than Cedar Falls to enlist the talents of an experienced piper, Ross Schupbach.
Schupbach has played the pipes for about 15 years. He previously marched with the Thunder Mountain Pipe Band at Grand Junction, Colorado. Since moving to Cedar Falls, Ross has played at many local venues and community events. He often performs as a duo with Russ Clarke, another Cedar Glen Pipes & Drums member.
Rounding out the piper corps are Greg McConoughey, a veteran of the Detroit Caledonia Pipe Band, and two of Schupbach’s bagpipe students, Mike Knapp and Pat Morrissey.
“I knew at our first meeting we would be the best damn pipe band in town,” recalls Knapp. “True, but we’re also the only pipe band in town,” added Morrissey.
For a pipe band to march, it needs drummers. Iowa Irish Fest committee member Greg Tagtow just happened to know a guy who could help. Tagtow contacted Ed Flack and introduced him to Schupbach.
Flack has performed three seasons as a concert drummer with the Waterloo Municipal Band and has field drumming experience through drum & bugle corps, high school, and college marching bands. Ed was excited to learn the pipe band drum style, famous for its rhythmic complexity and challenging techniques.
Drummer Elizabeth Collins brings two years of pipe band experience as a snare drummer with the Chesapeake Caledonian Pipes & Drums. Her understanding of pipe band drumming is a welcome asset.
Bass drummer Tom Blankenship has much drum and bugle corps experience and can play any drum in the line. Completing the drumline is Bill Brown on the tenor drum. Pipe band tenor drumming is unique in the world of marching percussion. It involves a complex series of mallet spinning techniques called “flourishes.”
According to Pipe Major Schupbach, “In the beginning, my only concern was that we could sound decent to the average sober parade watcher.” Band members now agree that the group has exceeded all personal expectations in the short time since coming together.
The Cedar Glen Pipes & Drums members are honored and excited to perform at the 2014 Iowa Irish Fest. The band will lead the Opening Ceremonies Parade on Friday, August 1, at 4:00 PM.
