Piping competition inspires spirit of competition in Scottish arts at Wooster
A hallmark of Wooster’s reverence for the Scottish arts is the unmistakable sound of Scottish pipes across the green. This spring, Tim Cummings ’97 led 18 participants in a Scottish Smallpipe music workshop as they prepared to host the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association’s indoor piping and drumming competition for the fifth time. Events like these “really give people an incentive to master the instrument,” said Bowen Ault ’25, pipe sergeant of the Wooster Pipe Band.
The competition brought more than 65 soloists and eight pipe bands to Wooster on Saturday, March 25. The impressive range of bands included Carnegie Mellon’s Grade V and III Bands, the Cleveland 87th’s Grade IV and V bands, the Michigan Scottish Pipes and Drums’ Grade V band, the Pittsburgh Firefighters Memorial Pipe Band’s Grade V band, and many more. “Seeing an increased entry closer to pre-pandemic levels was a wonderful thing,” said Palmer Shonk, adjunct instructor of music, bagpipes. Hosting the competition provides an opportunity to “showcase the College and its amazing amenities,” he said.
Ault placed second overall in the Grade 3 amateur events. “I was the only Wooster student competing in the competition this year, so it was good to represent the College,” he said. “I’m very happy with my performance. There were a number of solo competitors, and a lot of people from bands that were there to participate in the band competitions.” Shonk shared in Ault’s pride, noting that “Having Bowen Ault perform was a wonderful way to represent the College. His dedication to improving his playing has paid off as he has placed very well in the last two competitions.”
Tim Cummings ’97 teaches a Scottish Smallpipe workshop.
There were several notable moments during the competition, including a power outage at 3:30 p.m. Despite this, the competition finished on schedule. Shonk said Cummings’ performance under the auxiliary lights in Gault Recital Hall “had a cool effect on the music.” Further, Ault and Shonk see the competition as a fun and interesting way to bring Scottish arts to campus in another way and hope that it will continue to inspire interest in the College’s program.
Participation in the Wooster Pipe Band and other musical groups is not only for music majors and allows students who enjoy the arts to continue to enjoy their passions as well as performance opportunities. The Scottish Arts Scholarship at the College for pipers, dancers, and drummers includes a reduced rate for private lessons, and recipients are not required to major or minor in music. Students interested in learning to play bagpipes or Scottish drums may reach out to Shonk at pshonk@wooster.edu or Sean Lawry, adjunct instructor of music, Scottish drumming at slawry@wooster.edu to inquire about lessons.
Top image: Bowen Ault ’25, pipe sergeant of the Wooster Pipe Band placed second overall in the 2023 Eastern United States Pipe Band Association’s indoor piping and drumming competition.
Posted in News on June 1, 2023.
