USU's Bagpipe Band: A Look into the History, Significance of USU's Scotsmen Pipe & Drum Corps

On the day of commencement, a pretty distinct sound can be heard heralding in the graduation celebration — bagpipes.

First established in 2010 by former Caine College of the Arts Dean Craig Jessop and Matt Earl, the founding bagpiper, the USU Scotsmen Pipe and Drum Corps has been helping lead USU’s commencement processions on the Logan campus ever since. The corps is made up of USU undergraduates, some taught by Pitts, alumni who stick around or come back, current USU faculty and community members — and they welcome anyone who’d like to come and play with the band.

The commencement soundtrack is mostly comprised of marches, with “Highland Cathedral” being the most prominent for the graduation celebration. According to a website seemingly established for the tune, the song was created in 1982 by German composers Ulrich Roever and Michael Korb. The corps also plays “Scotland the Brave,” “The Green Hills of Tyrol,” “Killiecrankie” and “The Rowan Tree,” among others.

In addition to commencement celebrations, the corps also helps with other events, like Homecoming, the Presidential Investiture, and the Luminary.