THE ROUND TABLE -- ARCHIVE, 2002
November 15, 2002
Another year has come and gone. And your friends at the ACPB have gone through quite a few changes. We are
happy to announce an addition to the Pipe corps. Chris Bernard has recently joined us after receiving personal instruction from our student instructor, Frank Riggio. Welcome aboard Chris (and thanks to Frank)!
The Piper's Ball was a rousing success once again. Special thanks goes out to Tom Etter for all of his hard work and dedication toward putting on a great show. And thank you to the Graham family, who once again flooded the table with door prizes this year... GO ISLANDERS! We put on a great performance, and it's the best we've sounded all year...
Pat? Cutch wants to see you. Bring your playbook.
As we prepare for the 2003 season, we do so without our newest Pipe Major. Pat Ryan took the reigns from his brother Jim in May, and now turns them over to Marty Rowe. Marty has been with the band for 10 years, and has been a major contributor to the pipe corps. We look forward having him lead us on the street and in the contest circle for years to come. Pat recently bought a house in New Jersey, and will continue on in the pipe corps whenever he can.
And that's not the only leadership change. Brian McCutcheon has taken over the role of Band Manager from the Late Jim Ryan, Sr. So while the band loses the last of the Ryan family - for the first time in 31 years - we look forward to a bright future under new leadership.
---- September 17, 2002
That's right. You're about to read another round table entry. You've suffered long enough.
This entry can't possibly begin any other way than to address the passing of Jim Ryan, Sr. It has been 2 months since Big Jim left us, and he has been sorely missed. With a band meeting scheduled for tomorrow night, I'm sure he'll find time in his busy schedule to be with us - and maybe delay the meeting a bit.... Jim Ryan, Sr. was a pillar in the bagpiping community, and he was - and is - the reason the American Celtic Pipe Band is here today. His tireless work with this band has sustained us for over thirty years. We will strive forward in his memory. We miss you, big guy - forever in our hearts.
The 2002 contest season has come to a close. We started with one Pipe Major, and ended with another. Considering the circumstances that surrounded our year, I think the results were what we expected. We had a LARGE number of new players - and EVERY piper but one was new to the Grade IV circuit. It was a good experience for us all, and we look
forward to improving on the effort next year.
The end of the contest season must mean the Piper's Ball is just around the corner... So come on down and join us on November 2 at the American Legion Hall in Lindehurst. We'll see you next season.
---- July 10, 2002
WHEW! Quite a lot has happened with your friends at the American Celtic Pipe Band since the last Round Table entry. I guess most importantly, we wish Jim Ryan, Jr., our Pipe Major for 10 years, the best of luck in his move to Arizona. That leaves the band in the hands of Pat Ryan as our new Pipe Major. Pat led us to our second Grade IV contest of the year in Bonnie Brae. The results were not what we'd hoped for, but it was certainly an important learning experience for us all. Next we head to the Rockland Feis to continue our growth as a Grade IV band.
We also have TERRIFIC news from the home front!!! Janine Perez (nee Meehan), one of our former pipers who's family remains a primary cog in the band's development, is "with child." She and her husband, Ted Perez, are expecting a
bouncing baby (insert gender here) early next year. CONGRATULATIONS! We just hope that Jack and Jan can keep some focus on the band before becoming first time grandparents.
Congratulations also go out to another growing family in the band - Tom Patton, Sr. and Colleen Patton participated in their first parades on July 4. I'm sure it was a "hot" time for everyone!
Finally, We're expecting an old member to return to the fray this year. Chris Ryan will be coming back to join us as a part-time Bass Drummer. We're looking forward to his "unique" perspective on all things piping and otherwise.... And no doubt Jim and Alice are bubbling with pride.
---- April 23, 2002
The Tunes of Glory parade was a blast! We had the great fortune of playing with a newly created band from New York, and a great bunch of folks from ALASKA! That's right, ALASKA! I guess we can be sure to be in quite a few photo albums, since it seemed the Alaskans were the darlings of the parade. We had a great time, and thanks to our playing partners for making it all the more enjoyable. Congratulations to Paul Pearo on his first parade in the pipe corps - good choice for your first time out!
We have just two weeks before the first contest, and things are starting to round into place. The band sounds good, and hopefully we can have a solid performance at Monmouth on May 4th. With the extra effort put in by everyone, it should turn out to be a good season.
---- March 27, 2002
Whew! Another LONG St. Patrick's Day season has come and gone. We had the usual number of appearances, but for some reason, it just seemed a little longer this year... oh yeah, that's right - we've got one more gig next weekend.... it should be a nice capper to another great season. If you don't already know about it, there's going to be a WHOLE LOT of pipers and drummers marching down 6th Avenue in NYC on April 6. Man - oh - man, I love New York!
2002 is already looking like a banner year for the American Celtic Pipe Band. Both the pipe and drum corps are growing, and the sound we're producing seems to get better every time out. We want to welcome Sue Patton as a new tenor drummer (the Patton's are apparently this decades version of the Meehan's), Kevin Graham as a new bass drummer (the Graham's aren't far behind the Patton's), and
Tara Meany to the pipe corps (we've already mentioned Tara in a past Round Table, but I'm in a welcoming mood.)
To re-cap the St. Pat's season, cold, rainy, cold, warm, warm, windy, cold. It was great to see Janine Perez and Sean Meehan at the parade in NYC - hopefully they'll be with us again for Tunes of Glory on April 6 (and maybe even another Ryan.)
The contest season will be here before you know it, and we're looking forward to strong effort from everyone - maybe even some more new faces.... Our fearless leader is fully dedicated to getting us in great shape to make an impact, so keep an eye on the ACPB this summer.
---- February 5, 2002
We're into February already, and - unlike most previous years - your friends at the ACPB are hard at work already. Jim gave us a goal of learning the entire new contest set by the end of January and it looks like nearly everyone will hit that target objective. The band's negotiators were quick to point out the last practice of January was Jan 30th, not quite the end of January, so we got a sort of reprieve until Feb 6th. Even so, there's an excitement in the air at practice. Hey Jim, don't burn us out, though!
Some other points of interest:
- Piper Mike Farwell is looking at some weeks of bed rest after Pelle Lindberg-ing his car. Bed rest means lots of time with the practice chanter, right Mike? Here's hoping you make it back by St. Pat's day. Get well soon.
- Snare Drummer Joe Grayson has decided to move on from the ACPB, citing "artistic differences" with the management. Just kidding. Seriously, Joe is moving on to a band closer to his home. The ACPB wishes Joe the best of luck in his future
endeavors.
- Snare Drummer Tim Delaney has returned to the American Celtic after stints with the NYC Department of Corrections and Iona College Pipe Band. Tim is an accomplished Grade II snare drummer, and his return will bring a great improvement to the drum corps. Welcome back Tim!.
- Beginner piping instructor Frank Riggio has been practicing with the pipe corps on the Grave IV contest set, and could be joining us on the contest circuit this year. Should the planets align properly, and Frank become a member of the contest band, the group will be adding a very strong piper who will certainly improve on the bandšs overall sound. Wešre hoping for the best welcome aboard, Frank!.
- Finally, The ACPB would like to thank the members of the Loch Norman Pipe Band for their generosity in helping us acquire 11 Shepherd, Mark II
chanters to go along with the ones we have now. Ed Krintz, Larry Taggart, and especially Tony Duffer are all true champions in every sense of the word. Good luck to you guys this year and thanks again.
---- January 24, 2002
Why does a band compete?
Sure, it's fun to play pipes with friends and maybe have a few drinks while doing it. But you can do that at parades.
Why does a band compete?
For practices like last night, that's why. The strides that this group has made over the past two weeks have been huge. January 23rd, and we were out on the floor, marching into the circle, playing the set without music. No small feat, considering we just got the entire set on January 9. It was just a very exciting and successful practice. Worthy of a Round Table entry.
---- January 14, 2002
As the calendar turns to 2002, we prepare ourselves for the St. Patrick's Day season and this year's contest circuit. We're very excited about this year's
possibilities - we may be getting some new chanters, and some additions to the piping ranks! Our PM has put together 2 great sets for Grade IV, and with a lot of work and dedication, we hope to leave a lasting impression with the judges again this year.
Just want to take a moment to welcome the newest member of the band to the fold - Tara Meaney. Tara comes to us with a 2 years of piping experience, and should prove to be a solid addition to the contest band (and parade band - newbies can't miss jobs!) Welcome aboard Tara!
Our St. Patrick's schedule is full (as usual), so expect to see you friends from the ACPB out and about throughout the month of March.
----
Round Table Archive
|
