WHO WE ARE
Based in Sandy, Utah, the Utah Pipe Band is a group of musicians throughout the state who celebrate Scottish and Celtic heritage by playing the great Highland bagpipes and drums. The band frequently performs with Highland dancers from the Barclay School of Highland Dance in Lehi, Utah. We pride ourselves on being a group where people of any cultural background can learn and play the pipes and drums. Our motto, "Act well thy part," reflects our belief that the individual talents and accomplishments of our members strengthen the band and contribute to our success.
WHAT WE DO
The Utah Pipe Band performs throughout the year for community events, military and first-responder ceremonies, holidays, and private events (funerals, weddings, etc.). We consider our performances at these events to be of the greatest importance and are honored to share our talents with our neighbors.
The UPB currently has three competition bands: a juvenile band (for those aged 18 years and younger) and two adult bands, divided by skill level. Each helps our musicians to sharpen their abilities and put them to the test at competitions, which typically take place at Scottish festivals and Highland games. Pipers, drummers, drum majors, and dancers can also participate in solo competitions to receive personalized feedback from experienced judges.
OUR TARTAN
The Utah Pipe Band proudly wears the Spirit of Utah tartan on our kilts. Tartan is a cloth with a design made of two or more colors that form a pattern by intersecting each other horizontally and vertically. In Scottish tradition, tartan is woven from wool, and the pattern it features can be used to represent and identify members of certain family groups (or "clans"), nations, organizations and other groups. Tartan is most famously used to make traditional Scottish clothing such as the kilt.
The colors of the Spirit of Utah tartan are inspired by the flag of Utah — white for the snowcapped mountains that have long cradled the area's tribal nations; red for the red-rock canyons in the south; dark blue for the skies and lakes; and gold for the bee skep or "beehive," Utah's state emblem. Light blue represents the state's Scottish ancestry (inspired by the flag of Scotland) and is also a nod to the blue found in the Ancient Barclay Hunting tartan, Robert S. Barclay being one of the UPB's founders.
Though designed by the UPB and adopted as the band's tartan in 2024, the Spirit of Utah tartan is meant for anyone to wear, whether they're representing our state or simply love the look of the design. Our kilts are expertly woven from new British wool by Lochcarron of Scotland.
CHECK IT OUT!
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