User:PersonABC/St. Thomas' Episcopal School Pipe Band

Summary
The St. Thomas' Episcopal School Pipe Band is a part of the music program of St. Thomas' Episcopal School, a K-12 independent school in the Houston, Texas, United States area. Founded 1955, the school has A, B and C pipe bands, not unlike other high school and college marching bands. Under the leadership of Mike Cusack, the band won its first Juvenile category World Championship in 1985 and its second in 1995. They have since competed in the World Championships periodically, winning in 1998, 2004 and 2006. In competitions outside the Juvenile category, the band will compete in Grade 2 or 3. Its most recent accomplishment was winning the North American Championships in Grade 3 in Maxville, Ontario, in 2008; and in competition, the pipe band competed at North Berwick and Bridge of Allan on their 2010 trip to Scotland and won grade 2 for the first time at both competitions.

History
The St. Thomas' Episcopal School Pipe Band began in the early 1960s when the school's founding Rector, The Reverend T. Robert Ingram, decided he wanted a school band with a distinctive identity. Mr. Ingram contacted Pipe Major Donald Shaw Ramsey, who was then living in California. He came to the school for a number of years to conduct two-week workshops. The church organist, John Moseley, began to learn the pipes so he could teach the students in Ramsey's absence, and the school's Headmaster, Henry L. Walters, Jr., began teaching the drums.

Through the years several instructors have been through the Scottish Arts program, but it was not until Mike Cusack took charge that the program evolved to what it is today. During his 22-year role as band director, Mr. Cusack led the band to 4 world championships and produced three albums.

The St. Thomas' Episcopal School Pipe Band is now under the directorship of Harry Isensee, since 2010, and Lyric Todkill, since 2005. It has grown to become one of the world's most respected pipe bands, winning the Juvenile World Pipe Band Championships in 1985, 1995, 1998, 2004, and 2006. The Band performs throughout the community. Through its history, the band has played for, the halftime shows at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee and at Reliant Center for the Houston Texans game, The MD Anderson Children’s Art Project, The Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Houston Blood Center. It has also performed for Queen Elizabeth II and President George Bush.

Program
Upon reaching the fourth grade, boys and girls are given the opportunity to take bagpiping or snare drumming as part of their curriculum.

Although many are familiar with only the “A” Band (When not competing at a local competition, the A band is referred to as the general name of the band), St. Thomas’ employs a feeder system that graduates students through the ranks to the highest level. Below the “A” Band are the “B” and “C” Bands. The “C” Band comprises younger students that are new to the pipes or drums. Their goal is to improve enough to play in the annual Scottish Festival and then join the “B” Band. Once in the “B” Band, students have the opportunity to compete at local Highland games in Salado and Houston, TX.

Scottish Festival
Every year in the spring the St. Thomas' Episcopal School holds a show with all of the pipers, drummers, and highland dancers from the school. In the past the show had been performed at the old Sam Houston Coliseum, the Summit, and the Toyota Center, now it is held at the Wortham Center in Houston.

Recordings
These CDs include many favorites from past Scottish Festivals and other traditional and contemporary tunes. Both CDs were awarded "Pipe Band Recording of the Year" by Pipes|Drums Magazine. Currently, the band is finishing up a third album.
 * Dedication (2000)
 * Impressions (2004)

Faculty
Lyric Todkill - Band Director/Piping Instructor; Carnegie Mellon University

Harry Isensee - Piping Instructor

Blair Brown - Drumming Director

Brandon Thomas - Drumming Instructor

Past Pipe Majors, Pipe Sergeants, & Drum Sergeants
1992-1994: PM - Jeremy Freeman, DS - Chris Spisak

2000-2001: PM - Greg Friehauf, DS - Neil Krugh

2001-2002: PM - Kevin James, PS - Dan Fields, DS - Neil Krugh

2002-2003: PM - Alex Drecun, DS - Zach Goodrick

2003-2004: PM - Alex Drecun, DS - Zach Goodrick

2004-2005: PM - Matthew Drecun, PS - Taylor Williams, Andres Cardona, DS - Zach Goodrick

2005-2006: PM - Matthew Drecun, PS - Sean Windsor, DS - Zach Goodrick

2006-2007: PM - Michael Kenny, PS - James Wakeland, Ben Buckner, DS - Brian Mathews

2007-2008: PM - James Milikan, PS - Joseph Doyle, DS - Brian Mathews

2008-2009: PM - Ethan Crownover, PS - Kirtan Brahmbhatt, DS - Nader Girgawy

2009-2010: PM - Jacob Bowers, PS - Michael Listi, DS - Nader Girgawy

2010-2011: PM - Michael Hrncir, PS - Anthony Masterson, Andrew Coulter, DS - Nader Girgawy

2011-2012: PM - James McMurray, PS - Rohit Rajendran, DS - Andrew Listi

2012-2013: PM - Rohit Rajendran, PS - Travis Franklin, DS - Andrew Listi

2013-2014: PM - Andrew Calvert, PS - Jess Wakeland, DS - Eric Yang
 * please fill in if you know any others

Past Bass Drummers
1980-1981: Mark Aitala

1988-1990: Jason Moore

1990-1991: Thomas Watts

1991-1992: Jack Fraser

1992-1994: J. Witte III & John Cocke

1995-1998: Terry Christie

1998-1998: Michael Stumpf

1998-2003: Brian Morrison

2003-2007: James Lawrence

2008-2010: Anthony Franklin

2010-2012: Harry Isensee

2012–Present: Peter Bauer