2024 Celebration of Bagpipe Bands Coming March 2, 2024!
The 2nd Annual Celebration of Bagpipes at Bel Air on March 2, 2024, was a “Blow Out”!
Thanks to so many donors, supporters, BA staff and organizers, the evening which was set aside to celebrate the rich tradition of bagpipes at Bel Air for over 60 years, also kicked off the fundraising for the John Estes Scholarship, designed to inspire students to make the Bagpipe Band part of their life’s journey. Participants were able to tour the new Administration Building, Gymnasium, and get a bird’s eye view of the brand-new baseball field in addition to having some one-on-one time with the Bagpipe Visionary himself… John Estes during the meet and greet with Alumni.
Thanks to the many ex-bagpipers and drummers from the 1960s through the early 2000’s, memories shared spanned several decades. If you are not already a Facebook group member of the Bel Air Classic Highlander Clan, we would encourage you to join and see some of the videos, photos, and memories shared through letters to fellow Highlanders.
Mahrla Manning ’85, (BA Bagpipe Consultant) did an amazing job pulling together a great concert which included the El Paso Police and the El Paso Firefighters Bagpipe bands, the Empyre Pipe and Drum Corp., Michael Calleros ’68, and the Bel Air Bagpipe Band. The Massed Bands concluded the concert with “Highland Cathedral” and “Scotland the Brave.” In addition to Mahrla’s work, a special thanks goes out to Skip Clark ’74 and Adam Castaneda (BA Band Director) for their support and assistance with the #bigredpipeband. Dolores Lujan Hernandez ’72, closed out the event by leading the entire attendees in the Bel Air Alma Mater. Some YouTube video links are attached below for those that would like to view some of the concert.
A huge thanks is due to Michael Calleros ’68 graduate and professional bagpipers today, traveled from Dayton, Ohio to attend and participate in the concert. Michael and I also had the distinct privilege of visiting our Loma Terrace roots during the week prior to doing some recruiting of students into the Bagpipe band, or music programs at Bel Air. Michael, am sure, secured a large group of bagpipers for the 2034 class of Highlander graduates.
We are excited to announce that the Celebration’s kickoff of fundraising for the John Estes Scholarship Fund almost exceeded $6,000.00 and is still growing. If you would like to still make a donation, the Bel Air Classic Highlander website: Bel Air Classic Highlander Clan | MyEvent will remain available for donations along with the Ysleta Educational Foundations (YEF) site. We need your help in Bringing Back the Bagpipe Band Bigger and Better by helping to inspire a student to be a part of the longest standing tradition at Bel Air.
The Scholarship Committee would also like your help with participation in the program. If you are interested in helping with the student selection process, fund raising, fund management, give us a call.
For those that would like to learn more about how to help, get the final run down of this year’s event, and/or, be a part of the 3rd Annual Celebration of Bagpipe event (CoB3) planning, join us for a Zoom call (See link below) on Saturday, March 23rd, for a quick review of this year’s event and some brainstorming on ways to improve the event for next year and increase alumni support of Bel Air and the Big Red Pipe Band.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87950055779?pwd=ejJQeS9Icm9oRWNGY2dNbnQra1huZz09
Your Classic Highlander Clan & CoB2 Organizing Committee,
George Cordova ’72, Beto Flores ’72, Dolores Lujan Hernandez ’72, Anita Montoya ’72, Hector Silva ’72, Marsha Abrams Watson ’72, Ben Lopez ’71, Sammy Martinez ’71, Lee Ann Champion Peacock, Joy Rohmer Smith ’71, Marti O’Neal Sorey ’71, John Watson ‘71
LINKS to Celebration of Bagpipe Videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNOUENeYdNg&t=34s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxe0Issp-lw&t=11s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-F2aXAarhE&t=7s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2k73LXzDCc&t=6s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lHHVkCOY5s&t=10s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7TFO0IUx7I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSiw-mccZ7Q