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BOUNTIFUL — While the sound of bagpipes often evokes images of old stone castles, men on horses and beautiful green fields in the Scottish Highlands, the sound may also remind you of a band in Bountiful.
The Wasatch and District Pipe Band is a competitive bagpipe band based in Bountiful. Members get decked out in red and blue MacTavish tartan to perform all over northern Utah, as well as to compete across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and, recently, at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.
On April 14, the band performed at the Las Vegas Celtic Festival and Highland Games, executing dynamic formation changes while marching, drumming and piping out Scottish melodies.
Band manager Tyler Johnson said the Las Vegas performance was the season's first competition.
"It was a great opportunity for many of our newer members to travel and compete with the band. This was also a great place to debut some new music we've been putting together over the last several months," he said.
There are more than 100 rostered members in the Wasatch and District Pipe Band, with musicians divided between different "grades" based on their technicality and proficiency. Because there are several bands of differing levels, Wasatch and District helps individuals take their piping or drumming to whatever level they aspire to, Johnson said.
"We encourage growth and development as musicians through competition and performance," he said. "We welcome anyone who is new to the music or who already has experience, and love to collaborate with other artists for our performances."
It's not the only pipe band in Utah, but it is the largest. The band will perform on June 1 as part of the Davis Arts Council's Free Sunday Concert Series.
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