Tunes of Glory Pipe Band was formed in Montgomery,
Illinois, USA in October, 1980 by Craig McCloud, Jim
Rising, Ken Henderson, and Jack Carlson. The Band was
later renamed the Tunes of Glory Pipes and Drums, and
celebrated its
25th anniversary
in October, 2005. One of the founding members, Craig
"Mac" McCloud, is still active in the band as Drum Major.
Tunes of Glory has been competing for several years as a
proud member of the
Midwest Pipe Band
Association,
and has several pipers and drummers that also
participate successfully in solo competition. In
2005, Tunes of Glory won the title of
MWPBA Grade V Champions Supreme,
which is the third competitive championship in the Band's
history. The Band also traveled to Scotland to compete at
the
2005
World Pipe Band Championships
in Glasgow.
The Tunes of Glory roster comprises over 30 active pipers
and drummers, color guard, and a number of students.
The Band performs throughout the far western Chicago
suburbs in many parades, concerts, and private functions.
Players are also available for solo functions.
The Band rehearses at
Warrenville City Hall
each Wednesday evening 7:30pm-10:00pm, and teaches students
6:00pm-7:30pm. During competition season, additional
rehearsals take place on alternate Monday evenings as
needed.
Tunes of Glory is under
the musical direction of
Pipe Major Tom Brown, and
the band is privileged to
receive professional piping and drumming instruction
from
Adrian Melvin
and
Jim Sim.
Tunes of Glory Pipes and Drums is
competing at Grade IV for the 2007
season,
and is also fielding a novice band at Grade V for those new
to competition.
Prospective new members and students are always welcome.
Tunes of Glory Pipes and Drums, December 2007
The Tunes of Glory Grade IV Competition Band, 2007
(back row, left to right)
Gene Green, Mike Heywood, Tracey Cowart, PS John Magill,
John Adair, Stuart Barr, PM Tom Brown, Mike Fitak, Barb
Szpyrka
(front row, left to right) Kayli Smith, DS Tom Jewell, DC
Rich Ahlert, Lon Robertson, Tim Heywood
Not pictured: George Drobney, Rick Gray, George
Jett
Tunes of Glory competition band at the 2005 World Pipe Band Championships at Glasgow Green, Scotland
Our First Year
1980-1981
By Band Historian Barb Szpyrka 2/27/2004
Craig McCloud, Jim Rising, Ken Henderson, and Jack Carlson formed the pipe band in the summer of 1980.
Craig learned to play when touring in Scotland and England while in the service. Jim was a student of Craig’s, and they first played together in the 1980 July 4th parade. They had the idea of starting a bagpipe band in the Far Western Suburbs of Chicago. Ken Henderson, a first generation Scot, attended that Fourth of July parade and saw Craig and Jim there. After the parade he spoke to them and learned of their desire to have a pipe band in the Fox Valley area and offered to help. Near his home in North Aurora Ken heard the sound of bagpipes one day. He located the sound and recruited Jack Carlson.
A few years prior to this Jack started to learn the pipes from Craig. Craig stopped teaching so Jack then took lessons from Robbie Robertson. When Ken met Jack he gave him Jim’s phone number and that is how the original three pipers came together.
Craig, Jack and Jim then would practice out of Jack’s garage in North Aurora. Ken, who did not play an instrument, became the band's manager and located the first practice site at the North Aurora Activity Center.
So the recruitment continued for more members. Larry Raymond, a co-worker of Craig’s at Mercy Hospital, was recruited to play base drum. Jack recruited Ed Fleming, a co-worker at Northern Illinois Gas Company, who had played drums previously in drum and bugle corps. Ken learned about Barb Szpyrka from the Saddlers Music shop in Aurora and recruited her to join. Barb learned to play in New Jersey and was a past Pipe Major and instructor of her high school pipe band, then known as the Highlander Girl Pipers from Governor Livingston Regional High School. Ken solicited his friend Geordie Clyde to come out and help teach tenor drumming, and his friend Pauline Haverkate, a champion highland dancer, to teach highland dancing.
Answering the call for new members was Doug Cowan who played drums. Mary Beth Cowan came to learn dancing and Peggy Cowan came to learn the bagpipes. Betty Cowan, who had the desire to learn piping, was learning on the side from her daughter Peggy. Ed Fleming knew of a piper from Coal City, Scott McCawley, who learned to play while attending West Point Military Academy and was a member of the West Point Pipe Band.
So by December of 1980 there was the start of a band and Highland Dancers. Soon after that Mike Harkins heard of the band and came out to a practice. Mike was an established piper, tenor drummer and Drum Major, having been a part of several Chicago area bands. As the year progressed, Kevin Carlson, Frank Furry, and Larry Bettcher came out to learn tenor drumming. There were also several students learning the bagpipes. Craig was Pipe Major/President, Jim was Pipe Sergeant, Mike was Drum Major, Ed was Drum Sergeant, Larry was Treasurer, and Ken was the Band Manager.
The band fund started out with Craig, Jim, Jack, Larry and Ed each lending the band up to one hundred dollars each to cover start up costs. The pipers owned their own pipes and with the start up money the band purchased two side drums. Somewhere an old used bass drum was obtained at no cost to the band. As the year progressed and the band was preparing for competition a new bass drum was purchased, as the old one could no longer be tuned. The band had no money for the purchase of the drum so the supplier allowed the band to pay for it over time as the funds were acquired. The initial uniform consisted of each member wearing his or her own kilt, belt, bonnet, and sporran. It was decided that each member should purchase a silver tan military style shirt and tan hose.
That year the band performed for the Aurora United Way, put on its first concert, played in competition and many parades. The band was very unique to have highland dancers associated with us and they performed at all the functions. At the end of the summer of 1981 the band still was not registered with the state as a non-for profit organization or had by-laws. Craig and Larry left the band and in the interim Barb became acting Pipe Major, Jim acting president and Betty acting treasurer. At this time Jim formed the necessary committees to define the by-laws and get the band registered with the state of Illinois.
By October of 1981 the Tunes of Glory was established and the first Annual Band dinner was held.
The band at its first concert, February 8, 1981.
Back Row (left to right): Scott McCawley, Jack Carlson,
Craig McCloud, Jim Rising, Barb Szpyrka
Front row (left to right): Doug Cowan, Ed Fleming, Larry
Raymond, Mike Harkness
In Memoriam
In late August, 2005, Tunes of Glory lost a good friend, Betty Cowan.
Click here to read her incredible story
Tunes of Glory proudly wears the Hunting MacInnes tartan