Hear classic Celtic sounds at the Imogene Theater, tomorrow evening at 7 p.m., as the Santa Rosa Pipes & Drums (SRP&D) play for Saint Patrick's Day. Following the show there, join them at the Blackwater Bistro for more music with a serving of corned beef, cabbage, and green beer.
SRP&D is a nonprofit corporation supported by the Santa Rosa Arts and Culture Foundation, according to Walt Schumann, president of the SRP&D. Schumann has been with the band for 10 years, since its inception, he said and now the band is made up of four pipers and three drummers.
The band, Schumann said, not only plays at local events but teaches as well. Recently, the band played at the Riverwalk Arts Festival. Schumann said they also plan to play at the forestry convention coming up in Munson and have played for events at the Santa Rosa County Veterans Memorial Plaza and the 4th of July. Schumann noted the band covers the military anthems of all five services, including the Coast Guard.
Schumann noted the band is too small right now to compete, but will do so as the band accrues more members. "We are probably one of the few (bands) that will teach from the beginning," he added.
Right now, the SRP&D has two foresters in the band. Schumann said the band gets a lot of support from fire departments and forestry organizations. The county forester, Ian Stone, he said started from scratch and is now a stand out player, according to Schumann. His own son, he said, who works for the Longleaf Alliance, plays in the band as well.
To learn more about the Santa Rosa Pipes & Drums, visit their Facebook page or call 626-4037.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Relish Celtic classics with local pipe and drum band