The Citadel Regimental Band and Pipes Travel to Canada
For summer 2013, The Citadel Regimental Band and Pipes traveled to Canada to take part in the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The trip came three years after the band and pipes were the the only U.S. band in Edinburgh, Scotland, for the 2010 Diamond Jubilee of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a month-long nightly festival of music, pageantry and demonstrations by military organizations from around the world.
For summer 2013, The Citadel Regimental Band and Pipes traveled to Canada to take part in the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The trip came three years after the band and pipes were the the only U.S. band in Edinburgh, Scotland, for the 2010 Diamond Jubilee of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a month-long nightly festival of music, pageantry and demonstrations by military organizations from around the world.
The band’s trip to Canada was a huge success. More than 60 cadets boarded a plane for Nova Scotia in late June for intense practice sessions. After a grueling week of rehearsals, the Regimental Band and Pipes performed eight days in a row. The band played several military marching songs for crowds that packed the arena night after night. Known for their precision, cadets surprised the audience by breaking out of formation to perform “Hey, Baby.” The Citadel band was one of 28 performance groups, and the only group to represent the Unites States.
Videos
Celebrating Independence Day in Canada:
How about a little Red, White and Blue for your ears? Today, The Citadel’s Regimental Band and Pipes played for a crowd in Halifax about a block from the arena where they perform in the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo.
The Citadel band gets funky:
Want to see The Citadel Band get funky? Check out the video to watch the cadets break out of their precise march, get down, and then quickly snap right back into formation. This act was a HUGE hit at the tattoo.
The Citadel band marches in downtown Halifax:
As the band marched from the library to a park for the second performance, hundreds of faces curled into smiles. The cadets truly transformed the industrious mid-week mood into one of joy–if only for a few minutes. Shoppers and workers alike stepped out onto the sidewalk to catch the parade and take a photo to share this cool moment with their friends and family.
Tuba hug:
Never seen a Tuba Dance before? Well, neither have we. In fact, even after witnessing it, we’re still not sure what it really is. But, we think we like it.
Tuning the bagpipes:
When the musicians march onstage, their instruments have to be pitch-perfect. Every day, about an hour and a half before each performance, the bagpipers (there are more than 50!) get together in the arena to tune up. Major Dillahey plays a critical role in this important step.