Doubletake: Kilts and bagpipers at the festival?

Air Force Reserve Band has bagpipers

By BRENDA S. EDWARDS
Staff Writer

The Air Force Reserve Band is in town this weekend for the Great American Brass Band Festival and at least a dozen members will be playing bagpipes.

``We are a wind band and we feel comfortable about coming to the festival,'' said Capt. Alan Clark, commander and conductor of the band.

The 45-member Air Force band has about a dozen bagpipes, said Clark.

``We have the only bagpipe band in the Air Force,'' said Clark. Bagpipes have been associated with the military as far back as people can remember. The pipes are mostly associated with the British Isle in Scotland and Ireland but they are referenced in history into ancient Egypt, said Clark.

Bagpipes have been in band through the United States military from the Civil War until now, he said.

``Ours have had bagpipes in its performances all over the world since the 1960s. Our band was formed in September 1941.''

The authentic uniforms worn by the AF Reserve Pipe Band were manufactured in Scotland and favor the Air Force colors of blue and gold. The official tartan of the Reserve was authorized and approved in September 1987 by the Tartan Society in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The band is the oldest active or reserve, assigned to the Air Force. It was formed in Mitchell Field in New York. It travels more than 100,000 miles each year and performs all over the United States and other countries.

This is the first year the band has made a performance at the local festival.

``Over the years, we've followed and worked with many well-known brass bands in performances, Clark said.

Jim Thompson, former principal trumpeter with the Atlanta Symphony, will be guest trumpeter with Air Force Band. He is currently teaching at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y.

Clark said he is a fan of the Canadian Brass and has friends in the Jack Daniels Band.

The band found out about the Danville festival through one of its members whose daughter and husband live in the Danville area. ``They've said a lot of great things about the festival,'' said Clark.

Dave Ballingee's daughter, Nicole Yocum, and her husband, Todd, who is in the Kentucky Air National Guard, live in the Danville area, and he works for Caterpillar Track Components.

``We're looking forward to being here representing the airman of the Air Force Reserve,'' said Clark.