The Citadel’s Regimental Pipe Band earns first place finish at Loch Norman Highland Games

April 17, 2025April 17, 2025 Featured Students

The Citadel’s Regimental Pipe Band traveled to Huntersville, North Carolina, to compete in the Loch Norman Highland Games during the weekend of April 12.

During competitions, bagpipers are divided into different grades depending on their expertise.

The advanced band, Grade 4, earned a pair of third place finishes in piping, while the beginner band, Grade 5, took three first place wins and third place in drumming. These results set the Pipe Band up to win overall first place out of seven other bands.

“This win is significant because I believe every player in the Pipe Band that we have taught from scratch — to include a few of this year’s freshmen — is a testament to the hard work these young men and women have put into learning their respective instruments. We have held many extra rehearsals in the evening since returning from the Christmas Furlough in preparation for this weekend, so it’s a relief that the hard work has paid off,” said Regimental Pipe Band Director Samuel Dillahey, ’01.

In the solo contests, Cadet Jonathan Kendrick took first place in his Grade 4 Senior march event. This was his first win in a solo contest. Kendrick has been playing bagpipes since his freshman year in high school, after being inspired by a trip to Edinburgh, Scotland.

“It was an exhilarating feeling to take first place. My parents were with me, and it was almost as exciting for them as it was for myself,” said Kendrick. “My advice for anyone interested in joining the Band, especially for bagpipes, is to start at soon as you can. Find a band near you; almost all offer free lessons. From personal experience, the easiest way to learn bagpipes is to get into a band. It’s a fun thing to do, and you get to meet great people.”

Citadel cadets also had the opportunity to interact with younger pipers and answer their questions about the Pipe Band and The Citadel itself. Among them was Cadet Russell Putnam, who served as Pipe Major for the Grade 5 group and reflected on the experience.

“We have been working towards this achievement all year after coming in second and third in previous competitions. Personally, this is the third competition that I have attended with the school, and they have all been a great experience to represent The Citadel while also having a good time,” said Putnam. “As someone who joined the band never playing bagpipes before I matriculated last year, the Pipe Band is full of opportunities to improve yourself as a person and musician. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested and willing to put in the work.”

Cadet Logan Murray, who serves as the Pipe Major for the entire Regimental Pipe Band, said that in his four years at The Citadel, the Band has grown exponentially — with no signs of slowing down.

“My goal was, by the time I graduate, to see that this Band is going places and is doing well. This year has blown me away. We’ve gotten a good enough sound that we can go to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, get invited to perform at the presidential inauguration, do all these events — I’m happy where the Band is. We’ve placed in every competition this year; we even won first at Loch Normand Highland Games for our Grade 5 band,” said Murray. “I’ve never seen a win — a first place— ever, so to see our Band have the caliber of people to produce these results really makes me excited. The Band is growing and continuing to do well. Anyone who’s interested in joining, they would be joining at a good time because the band is still doing well coming off Scotland, and there’s a lot of motivation to keep doing all these things and perform well, especially in competitions.”

The Regimental Band and Pipes functions as a single cadet company at The Citadel, consisting of two parts – the Regimental Band and the Regimental Pipe Band. Both units consist of a drum major and a number of musicians. While each unit can perform independently, they often come together to support the Corps of Cadets, the community and the nation.