ITHACA, N.Y. — The Finger Lakes Pipes and Drums band took home first place in a regional competition in Liverpool last weekend and is headed to another regional competition this weekend to try to sweep up another win.
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The Finger Lakes band has already won first place at the Ithaca Hometown Games and Syracuse Scottish games, and took third place at a Utica competition, Band Manager Steve Monroe said.
Monroe said the first place win gives the band points with the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association, which accumulates scores at regional competitions. The band with the highest scores at the end of the year — based on wins determined by the quality of performances — takes home the championship, which the band is vying for.
The Finger Lakes band has been around since 2008 and has grown its membership to nearly 30 people. Its youngest member is 12-years-old and the oldest are well past retirement age.
Monroe said the group practices once a week at the Ithaca Farmers Market. While it’s a bit of a commute for some members who come from as far away as Rochester or Waverly — Monroe said he drives nearly an hour to get to practice — the members come for the solidarity and good times.
“People in band are there because they like it and they enjoy pipe music and they want to be part of an organization that is not only dedicated to pipe music but is a fun group,” Monroe said.
He said the band is headed to another competition this weekend at the International Celtic Festival at the Hunter Mountain Resort in Hunter.
Watch the band perform in Liverpool below.
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