Tunes of Glory
Pipe Band, a federal 501(c)3 organization, 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 Stuart Barr, 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 V for the 2009 season.
Prospective new members and students are always welcome.
Tunes
of Glory Pipes and Drums, January
2010
The
Tunes of Glory Grade IV Competition Band, 2007
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
Tunes
of Glory proudly wears the Hunting MacInnes
tartan