The Pipes, Drums and Highland Dancers of Scotland’s Black Watch will join forces with the Band of the Scots Guards to play a collection of traditional folk music and military tunes on March 1 at the VPAC.
The ensemble is currently on tour throughout the United States and various parts of Canada until the end of March.
The Pipes and Drums of the Black Watch 3rd Battalion are a world famous ensemble that played for the troops since as far back as World War I.
The Band of the Scots Guards have no recorded time of formation, but in 1716 there was a small band of ‘hautboys,’ or oboes, that existed. That group grew throughout the 19th century until there was an establishment of 44 members.
The Scots Guards also performed for the troops during World War I, often on the homefront. They played at both the Battles of Ypres in Belgium and at the Battle of the Somme in France.
During the Gulf War, the Scots Guards were the only foot guard band to be deployed, and in turn they earned Gulf War medals. One can still find the medals on the uniforms of the band members that were present during that time.
Not only did the band play for the troops, they donated their time to helping in hospitals and around the camps.
The band play an assortment of musical ensembles: marching band, concert band, fanfare team, brass quintet, wind quintet, orchestra, and jazz ensemble.
Tickets for the show can be purchased at the Valley Performance Arts Center ticket office or on ticketmaster.com. Orchestra seats, which are closest to the stage, are priced at $75. Behind the orchestra, in the parterre, tickets are priced at $60. In the loge, which is behind and above the parterre, tickets are $45.