NYU Pipes and Drums have impressed graduating students since 1990, when bagpiping enthusiast and former university president L. Jay Oliva formed an NYU pipe band.
Since its formation, the band has played at commencement ceremonies at Yankee Stadium, Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden and more. Still, many students do not know about the band until they are receiving their diplomas.
“What we’re hoping to do is get [students] involved with the band when they first come here, not just on their last day,” said piper John Henderson, 48.
James Felder, a founding member of the band, joined during his first semester at NYU. He is currently a pipe sergeant and an associate teacher in the Tisch department of dramatic writing. During Felder’s undergraduate career, he studied in Tisch School of the Arts, College of Arts and Science and Gallatin School of Individualized Study.
“The one stable thing I had during my NYU years was the pipe band,” Felder said.
With over 20 years of experience, it is hard to imagine Felder did not have any musical experience prior to joining the band. But no experience was fine then, and it is certainly fine now.
“Our primary mandate is to be a teaching band,” Felder said.
44-year-old founding member and current pipe sergeant Julianne Brown agrees.
“We are driven by trying to reach out and teach anyone who has an interest in pipes,” Brown said. “We welcome everyone’s level, whether they played an instrument for 20 years or can’t read music.”
With seasoned veterans like pipe major Brian Meagher and drum sergeant Adrian Mordaunt, NYU Pipes and Drums could not be better equipped to teach. Both Meagher and Mordaunt come from long family traditions of piping and drumming and have played at high-level bagpipe competitions.
Tyler Herrmann, a CAS sophomore, became involved with the band last year while searching for an NYU-affiliated drumming outlet.
“It’s neat playing with grad students and faculty because it gives me a sense of just how broad the NYU community is,” Herrmann said.
“NYU Pipes and Drums is like a family to me,” said Gallatin senior Erica Mancini.
The band will be holding its first practice for beginners Tuesday, Oct. 2, from 8-9 p.m. in the Kimmel Center for University Life, room 604.
Kevin Burns is a contributing writer. Email him at [email protected].
