About
The Manhattan University Pipes & Drums are quartered on campus in the Riverdale section of The Bronx, New York City. The band was formed in 1981 under the guidance of Brother Kenneth Fitzgerald, FSC, and the musical training of Captain Robert Hogan ’82 (MBA), of the Pipes & Drums of the New York City Police Department Emerald Society.
The band consists of a mix of current students, alumni and faculty. The young men and women of Manhattan are trained in the fundamentals of bagpiping, drumming and marching. The band is well-represented by first generation Irish-Americans and welcomes all members of the Manhattan University community regardless of background. Their musical repertoire is drawn from the traditional airs and marches of Ireland as well as from contemporary and traditional American selections.
The band makes regular appearances at a number of parades and social events in the New York metropolitan area and annually leads the administration, faculty, students, graduates and friends of Manhattan University up Fifth Avenue on St. Patrick’s Day. Additionally, the band has performed in the Bunker Hill Day parade held in Boston, the Naples, Fla. St. Patrick’s Day parade, has opened for the Mighty Mighty Bostones in Roseland Ballroom in New York City, played the “Holiday Express Benefit Concert Christmas Spectacular” at the Continental Airlines Arena, and performed consecutive years in Frank Patterson’s annual show held at Carnegie Hall. The band has received a number of awards for outstanding performances at these events. The band is especially proud of being one of the few American-based organizations to participate in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin, Ireland, and for winning First Place for University Bands and for University Pipe Bands in subsequent years of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The Manhattan University Pipes & Drums fields a contingent of more than 50 pipers and drummers, and is led under the musical guidance of Pipe Major Michael Scire ’13. The Moderator is Thomas McCarthy ’06, ’10 (MA) and the Director is Michael Hogan ’91.
Download Music
