The Regimental Band and Pipes, like the other cadet companies, provides its members with opportunities to develop their leadership skills. Many band members and pipers move through the ranks and obtain senior positions of leadership within the Corps of Cadets. Members pursue commissions in the U.S. military and excel in law, government, business, industry, medicine and higher education after graduation. At home on the parade field and in a concert hall, The Regimental Band and Pipes has earned an international reputation as one of the world's premiere military college bands, offering music with great variety and appeal. Members have marched during inaugural parades and national functions and played for the President of the United States on numerous occasions including marching in the Presidential Inauguration Parades of 1953 and 1961. In 1985, the Regimental Band and Pipes travelled to Washington for the Presidential Inauguration but extreme cold weather cancelled the parade. In 1991, the Regimental Band and Pipes became the first military college band ever to be selected to participate in the world-famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo of Scotland - a month-long nightly event of music, pageantry and demonstrations by military organizations from around the world.
Regimental Band
The Regimental Band is made up of about 100 cadet musicians. An important segment of cadet life at The Citadel, the Regimental Band contributes to the morale of the Corps and helps to maintain the martial atmosphere of the campus. The band is an active organization that provides service to The Citadel in many capacities. It performs during the Friday afternoon dress parades, buglers control the daily schedule, and freshman and sophomore cadets from the band perform as the Corps marches to its noon meal during the week. The band is active at football games and inspires Citadel athletic teams and fans with its Pep Band throughout the year. Contributing to The Citadel's annual Christmas holiday celebrations, members form an ensemble that accompanies the many cadet choirs in the Christmas candlelight service. Numerous other events, ranging from holiday parades, formal ceremonies and special events, round out the yearly schedule.
The Citadel Pipe Band
The sounds of bagpipes were first heard at The Citadel in 1955. One of the most easily recognized attractions at the college, the Pipe Band is composed of a drum major and approximately 30 to 35 pipers and drummers. Each fall, the unit recruits pipers from the entering freshman class, many of whom have never played the bagpipes. The colorful unit, led by the kilted drum major in a feather bonnet, is the leading element of the Regimental Band and Pipes. From 1956 until 1981 the bagpipers wore the Royal Stewart tartan. Since 1981, the bagpipers have worn The Citadel's own tartan, which has been duly registered in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Pipe Band is popular at dress parades and other events throughout South Carolina and the nation including the Heritage PGA Tour event at Hilton Head, SC. The Pipe Band is a very active organization that also competes as a Grade IV band at Highland Games all over the United States. Mentored by Sandy Jones one of the nation's premier pipe instructors for more than 25 years, the Citadel Pipe Band is one of the nations finest. The current director of the Pipe Band is Major Jim Dillahey SCM '01,
The Edinburgh Military Tattoo 1991
The Citadel Regimental Band and the Pipe Band were the only American unit invited for the 1991 show, having been invited by the Tattoo's producer, Colonel Leslie P.G. Dow, O.B.E., in March 1990. Both units performed as part of the massed bands and massed pipes. Their performance resulted in the South Carolina Legislature passing a concurrent resolution commending their performance.
The Citadel Regimental Band and Pipes were selected by the Director of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo to represent the United States at the 2010 Diamond Jubilee of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a month-long nightly festival of music, pageantry and demonstrations by military organizations from around the world. The festival ran Aug. 6-28 and included nightly performances and concerts in and around Edinburgh.
Selected for a third time to represent the United States at the 2015 Tattoo, the Regimental Band performed the opening fanfare for the Tattoo's theme "East meets West" as well as the massed bands finale. Combined with the Citadel pipe band, their own seven-minute segment of the show featured musical numbers reflecting a wide variety of uniquely American music.
