Pipes and Drums Journey to Glasgow for World Pipe Band Championship

A set of bagpipe-playing twins will be among those representing Carnegie Mellon University on the international stage as its Pipes and Drums band prepares to compete for the first time in the European Pipe Band Championships in Perth, Scotland, Aug. 9, and World Pipe Band Championships(opens in new window) in Glasgow, Aug. 15.

Alexandra and Elizabeth Knox, who graduated from Carnegie Mellon in May, began playing bagpipes in middle school, learning the instrument from their father, CMU alumnus Steven Knox, and going on to compete in solo competitions across the East Coast.

During competitions, Alexandra and Elizabeth often encountered the CMU pipe band. Their father had graduated with a master of science degree in statistics in 2002. Their mother, Michelle Dunn, is also an alumna, and graduated with a Ph.D. in statistics in 2005.

As they learned more about the university and the band, they decided to enroll. The biggest appeal, they said, was finding a school that allowed them to continue their hobby while also excelling in their chosen field of computer science(opens in new window).

“It was really helpful for me to have a community and an extracurricular that was completely separate from the academics,” Elizabeth Knox said.

Carnegie Mellon’s Scottish roots(opens in new window) have long inspired daily life at the university. From the interwoven threads of the Tartan to the Scottish thistle that adorns the university seal, elements of founder Andrew Carnegie’s culture and family life are deeply embedded into the university’s modern identity. The Pipes and Drums(opens in new window) band at CMU is a reflection of that inspiration; since its founding by Lewis W. Davidson in 1939, the students and alumni within the group can be spotted at yearly events like commencement, providing celebratory musical accompaniment.

Making the journey possible

Andrew Carlisle(opens in new window), the director of piping at CMU, has played bagpipes for his entire life and says that many of the band’s members also come with musical experience; however, Carnegie Mellon is home to the world's first undergraduate degree in bagpipe performance.

“I'm always fascinated when you get people showing up for their first lesson,” he said. “Students have come from almost every U.S. state and across six continents.”

Despite being the first environment in which many encounter the instrument, the band has managed to earn its place among the world’s most highly recognized bagpiping bands. But preparing the ensemble for the event has come with challenges beyond purely musical ones, Carlisle said.

While the event will be attended by more than 35,000 viewers in person, approximately 500,000 people are expected to watch the entire piping ensemble perform as the event is broadcast on the BBC. The group’s participation in this year’s global competition is the result of each individual member’s dedication to the art and to supporting their team.

“I think for 99% of them, going this year will be their first time ever — not only going to the world championship, but even going to Scotland — so it's a big opportunity. It's exciting to share that with them.”

In June, the band competed in the Chicago Highland Games and won, placing first in two categories among some of the best bands in the nation: the Medley and March, Strathspey and Reel categories. The band also won the American Pipe Band Championships at Norfolk, Virginia, in April.

From the national to the global stage

The Knox twins said that a wide range of contributions from the band’s members under Carlisle’s leadership has made the band’s success possible.

“Every single person in the band has put in a lot of effort in order to get us to the point where we could consider going to the competition, and actually go,” Elizabeth Knox said. “Andrew Carlisle has put in a lot of organizational effort into getting this off the ground.”

The varied backgrounds of band members have also helped instill a sense of Tartan pride, according to Alexandra Knox.

“Something that was really cool is that the band pulls from all different places in the CMU community. We have current students from all different colleges, staff, alumni,” she said. “Even people who graduated from CMU 30 or 40 years ago and have stuck around Pittsburgh, they'll come back to play with the band.”

“You can really hear it in kind of the sound as everyone gets geared up for this competition,” Alexandra Knox added. “All the effort really shows. Regardless of how the band does at this competition, I'm super proud of how far everyone has come in the past couple years.”

A world-class experience

Roy Huang is a recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon’s BXA Intercollege Degree Programs(opens in new window).

A bagpiper since 6th grade, Huang went on to develop an interest in computer science in high school. When it came time to apply for college, his interest in music and technology helped him decide where to go.

“CMU stood out as the only school that had a world-class program in both and quickly became my dream school,” Huang said. “Before hearing about CMU, I didn't think it was possible to pursue and thrive in such unrelated fields together. I've learned to use my concentrations to help one another succeed.”

Huang previously attended the World Pipe Band Championships in 2018 with another band, but said he’s highly anticipating this year’s performance as well. 

“I'm excited that the band is doing this,” he said. “I'm looking forward to hearing the world’s top pipe bands compete now that I have a more experienced ear. I would also love to bring back a win. Regardless of the result, it'll be a great experience of growth and competition for the band.”

The last bagpiper

There is, however, one bagpiper who will not be accompanying the team on the journey to Scotland: McBlare(opens in new window), a robotic bagpiper who once stole the show at the World Pipe Band Championship with a solo performance.

Having already represented Carnegie Mellon in front of a worldwide audience, McBlare has been tapped to hold down the fort at CMU while the other bagpipers seek to bring back global acclaim.

And while this is no small feat for a robot, Carnegie Mellon has long built its automated companions to do the job and do it well. The MIDI-powered McBlare is no exception, and has often been seen performing at SCS commencement ceremonies and other events.

If an emergency bagpiper is needed while the team is away, McBlare will surely be ready with a kilt to wear and melodies to share.