Band History

In 1998, a small group of dedicated Vermont pipers came together with an idea and a dream. The goal of this group was to create a pipe band based on musical excellence. The original five pipers worked together to expand the group and to transform a piping club into a band. Unfortunately, tragedy struck and one of the original founding members was diagnosed with cancer. After a valiant struggle, Cyrus McQueen passed away. The progress towards the formation of a band was temporarily halted.

In late 1999, Iain Mac Harg gathered approximately ten of his interested students and proposed the idea of forming a piping group in central Vermont. This idea was met with great enthusiasm and before long the ranks of dedicated participants had grown. Using traditional “yankee ingenuity” the group searched out practice spaces, which ranged from Iain’s front lawn to the local Senior Center. The group continued to grow and develop but it wasn’t until the winter of 2000 that the group officially became a band when drummers were added, with the addition of Andrew Adams.  The name Catamount Pipe Band was chosen to honor the wild life and spirit of Vermont. On recommendation of the now Pipe Major, Iain Mac Harg, the Hume tartan was selected as the official band tartan. 

The band competed in its first official competition at the Southern New Hampshire Highland Games in 2001. Despite terrible weather and lack of matching uniforms the band was very successful and placed third. This success was inspiring to the band membership and launched two years of successful competition in grade 5. After two years of competing in grade 5 the band was ranked third overall in the EUSPBA Season Championship. The band was then regraded to Grade 4. However, due to the huge interest and success of the band, it was possible to field multiple competition units. In 2003, under the direction of Pipe Major, Iain Mac Harg, Catamount Pipe Band successfully competed in both Grade 4 and Grade 5. At the end of the 2005 season, both bands were upgraded, creating both a new Grade 4 band and a Grade 3 band.

In addition to its competition units, Catamount Pipe Band also has a base of support in its upcoming members. These members perform with the band during parades, concerts, and other ceremonies. Catamount Pipe Band has performed at such venues as the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Boston, MA, on the lawn of the Montpelier State House, and the annual Labor Day Parade in Northfield, VT.