Danville Pipe Band

The Danville Pipe Band was formed to help promote the Celtic arts and culture through concerts and educational programs. The main focus is on the great Highland bagpipe, the use of tartan and traditional Scottish and Irish music. The group is available for parades, parties, school concerts and wedding and funeral music.

Brian Mollett, a music teacher in the Mercer County schools, organized the group. He had become intrigued by pipe bands after seeing the Lexington Pipe Band play in St. Patrick's Day Parade in Lexington. He started playing with them and then started this group.

"I really like performing on the pipes and it's a little more fun when you have people to perform with. The closest group was in Lexington so I thought I would start something a little closer to home."

He started with a chanter class last June.

"In December, the lessons were over. I said, `Anybody who wants to be a band, stick around and we'll try to become a band.' Most of them did."

In addition to Mollett, members are: Bill McVicker, Jack Lewis, Josh Edwards, Andrew Dodson, Janet Martin, J.P. Cummins, Jennifer Brummett, Bart Davidson, Aaron Nowlin, Neil Eklund and Jeff Shields.

A smaller version of the band first performed for the public at the Historic Constitution Square Festival in September. The group recently had its first paid performance at the Tri-State Celtic Festival in Ashland.

That group consisted of about five pipers, a bass drummer and a snare drummer.

"I'm hoping to have about nine of us in the parade," Mollett said, adding that they'll probably perform "Scotland the Brave" and "Rowan Tree" then.

One of the members' daughters does the Highland Sword dance, so they've added that to their repertoire. Mary Beth Davidson does the dance.