The 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 of the band is on the 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 a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Lexington. He started playing with them. 
“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 offering a chanter class in 2001. 
“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, Faith Hellard, Tom and Janet Martin, Bart Davidson, Neil Eklund, Bill Garriott, Mike Perros, Mark Lovell and Adam Hoover. 
A smaller version of the band first performed for the public at the Historic Constitution Square Festival in 2001. The group had its first paid performance at the Tri-State Celtic Festival in Ashland in 2001. The band returned in 2002.