News

CHARLESTON Pipe band

NEWS

Links & highlights from recent history in chronological order, most recent first.

BIG WIN IN JACKSONVILLE
Grade 4 brought home a first place prize from the Northeast Florida Scottish Festival & Highland Games held February 25, 2023 just outside of Jacksonville, FL. It is the band's strongest competitive finish since 2017.

CPB featured on Maclellan Bagpipes site

PM Ingraham began discussing new chanters with MacLellan Bagpipes early in 2020. This led to a rollout of the MacLellan Elevation Chanter for the band by ones and twos during a series of socially distanced lockdown rehearsals at public parks. They initially used G1 Platinum reeds, which provided a nice bright tone, and have since had great results with both Mur-reeds and Melvin Elevation Chanter reeds.

Ingraham noted: "It's so nice having a fresh batch of chanters that are easy to bring to a reasonable pitch for muggy South Carolina summers. I enjoyed the feedback and support provided by the MacLellan team and I know that my pipe corps really appreciate the great tone and comfortable feel of these chanters." Read the feature here.

Silver Anniversary
2020 marks the band's 25th year of consistent operation. We are planning several special ways to mark the occasion, including 5 trips to regional Scottish festivals, a special dinner, a surprise guest performance, and a brand new sound made possible with an investment in new bagpipe chanters made by Carolina-based MacLellan bagpipes. We look forward to sharing in the celebrations with all of you!

Supporting Veterans

The CPB marked the centennial of the end of World War I by performing in an international music event on Nov. 11, 2018, from 1-2 p.m. on King Street in Charleston. They played traditional pipe music including the tune, "When the Battle Is Over," (which coined with the United Kingdom's observance and performance of this specific tune) to honor all those who served. Proceeds from the sale of merchandise and donations on th e day were given to the S.C. Chapter of the USO. They raised several hundred dollars to support veterans and active duty military personnel. Special thanks were given to retired USMC Col. Charles O. Skipper, M.D., who was the master of ceremonies for the day.

Upgrade to Grade IV

After a solid season including their first win in seven years, the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association granted our Grade V unit permission to move up to Grade IV. The new Grade IV group will be led by Senior Pipe Major JD Ingraham assisted by a new Pipe Sergeant, Jamie Skinner. Skinner is CPB's longest serving member.

The band will be re-forming a Grade V feeder unit, giving us three competitive units in the 2018 season. We look forward to the debut performances of both new groups at the Northeast Florida Highland Games in February!