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Welcome    to   the    Realm 

of

CELTIC  THUNDER

Where

What We Do In Life. . .   Echoes In Eternity…

 

 

      STRENGTH  &  HONOR      

PIPE-MAJOR  BILLY  DART  and   DRUM-MAJOR  SCOTT  O'NEILL

of 

CELTIC  THUNDER  YOUTH PIPE-BAND

&

CELTIC  THUNDER  PIPES & DRUMS

 

Working  Together  To  Present  the  Most  Unique  Pipe & Drum  Organization

in  WESTERN  MASSACHUSETTS !

 

IT'S  ALL  ABOUT  THE  SHOW  &  HAVING  FUN !

 

 

Autograph Your Piping Skills With Excellence

MacEwen Clan Motto:       "Reviresco"       ( I Grow Strong Again )

 

 

 

GET  TO  KNOW  US

 

  Celtic Thunder is the Realm in which we are Committed to nurturing the values of Dedication,

  Teamwork, Respect, Responsibility, and Community Service through the Gift of bagpipe music.

  Celtic Thunder is a Non-Profit, Family Oriented, Fun organization based in Massachusetts.

 

  All members of Celtic Thunder volunteer their time in order to share the “Gift” of bagpipe music

  throughout the United States of America by way of education and performance.

Celtic  Thunder  Prides  Itself  as  being  a  Teaching  Pipe-Band  Organization

 

Celtic Thunder Youth Pipe-Band

  Inside the Realm of Celtic Thunder; exists the first Youth Pipe-Band in Massachusetts;  there is

  no doubt that this Youth Pipe-Band is all about the kids.  Priority one is to have Fun.  The Celtic

  Thunder Youth Pipe-Band provides an alternative hobby to children in the Community.

 

 Members are provided with exceptional instruction and guidance as they progress forward with

  their journey on the bagpipes or drums, by experienced Regimental Officers of the organization.

  Our teaching system is geared to have children playing actual tunes in a very short time.

  All lessons are taught in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for the kids. 

 

  Bagpipe and Drum lessons are always Free for members of the Youth Pipe-Band and are open to

  anyone between the ages of 8 and 18 years of age.  Of course these ages are just guide lines.

  So if a child is slightly younger and willing to commit to practice, we do make allowances.

 

  The Youth Pipe-Band has been structured in such a way that it actually allows the kids to be

  the leaders of the band.  The Pipe-Major of the Youth Pipe-Band is 14 year old Jeff Hastings of

  Brimfield.  Our Drum-Major for the Youth Pipe-Band is 8 year old Connor O'Neil of Monson -

  (following in his Dad's footsteps).  These are the Officers who will lead the Youth Pipe-Band in

  performance and parade.

 

 

Celtic Thunder Pipes & Drums

  Celtic Thunder Pipes & Drums is an Adult Pipe-Band which arose by popular demand of adults who

  wanted to be a part of this unique organization.  This pipe-band is open to anyone, regardless of age.

  Classes are structured to teach anyone interested in learning how to play the bagpipes or drums. 

 

  Lets face it, the average adult may have a full time job, a family and a home to take care of, so getting

  some practice time in on the home front may just be a challenge.  The cool thing about this band is that

  together we can make it happen.  Our teaching technique is unlike any other in the area.  We make it

  as simple and as relaxed as possible.  Our classes are designed to have most new members playing

  their first tune by the end of the second class.  No previous music experience  necessary.

 

  Celtic Thunder is probably one of the first Pipe-Bands around that does not require you to play an

  instrument in order to be a member.  Non-performing members play a very important role in the band.

  These members are the "wind beneath our wings" which will allow us to soar to otherwise unreachable

  heights. How cool is that?  That's part of the Magic of Celtic Thunder...

 

  All music lessons are overseen and taught by experienced Regimental Officers of Celtic Thunder.

 

  The Pipes & Drums venture out into many communities through out New England to share the "Gift"

  of bagpipe music with the American people by way of performance.  This is our way of giving back.

 

  Using our Experience, our Skills and our Imaginations, we pride ourselves on producing the best    

  possible show performances.  Celtic Thunder Pipes & Drums is on the rise due to the dedication and

  the commitment of its Players and our non-performing members who make it all happen.

 

 

Celtic Thunder Pipe-Band Competition Team

  Celtic Thunder Pipe-Band Competition Team was created in the Fall of 2008 to meet the challenge of

  progressing our skills to higher limits.  Our team members spend more time practicing and honing their

  skills than the average player.  They will take what they learn and venture into the competition circle with

  the intention to continue improving with bagpipe music and to be able to pass this knowledge onto the

  members of both Celtic Thunder Youth Pipe-Band and Celtic Thunder Pipes & Drums.

 

  Members of this team consist of both Youth and Adult members.  This is a new venture for the group

  and they look forward to meeting the challenges involved with the competition circuit. 

 

 

Celtic Thunder Highland Guard

  The Flag and the Rifle are the instruments that this unit of Celtic Thunder plays with.  Members of our

  Highland Guard are trained  with precision to execute maneuvers with flags and rifles to add to the show.

  Our Kilted Rifle Drill Team receives the best in training to make each show performance outstanding. 

 

 

No... Celtic Thunder is not just a Pipe-Band.  It is a Realm of  Wonders.

               

~S T R E N G T H   &   H O N O R~

 

 

A  Creative  Show  Pipe-Band  Unlike  Any  Other. . .

Celtic  Thunder  Brings  Out  The  Magic  In  Every  Performance

T h e    M a g i c   I s   B a c k  !

And  We're  Taking  it  to  a  Whole  New  Dimension !

 

"Giving  Back  To  The  Community"

 

  Having Fun is Priority One, But it's also important to give back to the many Communities

  throughout Western Massachusetts by way of Teaching and by way of Performing. Celtic Thunder

  has multiple practice locations.  The traditional way would be to be based in one town.  We have

  opted to break tradition and base Celtic Thunder in many towns to offer Free bagpipe and drum

  lessons to as many people as we can.  There is no limit on how many practice locations there will

  be.  As long as our resources continue to grow, so will the area in which we will call home. 

 

  Celtic Thunder also Gives back to the many Communities of Massachusetts by Performing at

  Nursing Homes for the residents, Children Hospitals, Soldier Homes, and Civic Ceremonies.

  These performances are always free of charge.  All you have to do is make a request and we will

  do our best to fit you into the schedule.  We are an American Show Pipe-Band first, Committed to

  the American People.

 

 

~We  Are  An  American  Show Pipe-Band~

Pipe-Corporal  Harley Dart ~ Celtic Thunder Youth Pipe-Band

 

 

 

Pipe-Major  Billy Dart

CELTIC   THUNDER    PIPES   &   DRUMS

  ABOUT  THE  Musical Director

  Background:  Pipe-Major Billy Dart, founding Pipe-Major of the Quabaog Highlanders Pipe-Band;

  2002 - 2007.  What began as a vision of sharing bagpipe music and creating a pipe-band had

  progressed at an unbelievable pace.  The band quickly became the largest show pipe-band in

  New England.  This was Accomplished through Many hours of Sacrifice and the Passion of Sharing

  the "Gift".  Having met and exceeding all of his goals and challenges with Quaboag Highlanders,

  Pipe-Major Billy Dart retired his leadership positions to create the 1st Youth Pipe-Band in Mass.

 

A  NEW  DREAM  LIVES

 

  Mission:  To Share the "Gift" of bagpipe music with as many people as I can through our teaching

  and performances.  We will accomplish this by breaking the rules of tradition and hold practices

  at many locations throughout Western Massachusetts.  Together with a good team of Officers I

  will build a Pipe-Band organization unlike any other with the primary objective of having Fun.

 

  Celtic Thunder Youth Pipe-Band:  

  As Band Director:

  This is a new project for me and so we are progressing forward with a slightly different strategy

  than most traditional bands. 

 

  Our goals are to offer an alternative hobby to young people.  Allow them to take what they are

  learning and share it in a positive way.  The Instructors will be the kids, we will be there to guide

  them along.  When they march in parade, it will be all children, this includes the Pipe-Major and

  the Drum-Major.  The most important aspect of this is to make sure that they are All involved and

  and having Fun.  The Youth Pipe-Band is my primary focus, to see them grow and progress.

 

  As the Band Director I am committed to working with each and every member of Celtic Thunder

  to insure that they reach their dreams of piping and drumming in a unique Pipe-Band.

  This I know as it is my Experience, Passion and Drive that will see them All Succeed.

 

  A Good Pipe-Major is worth a million bucks, Multiple Pipe-Majors - Priceless.......

~S T R E N G T H   &   H O N O R~

What  We  Do  In  Life...   Echoes  In  Eternity

 

  A Special  Thanks  To  Pipe-Major  Ken  Barber  of Connecticut.  Without His Teachings To Me, His Showmanship And His Inspiration;  The Quaboag Highlanders And Celtic Thunder Would Probably

Not Exist Today.   Ken Barber > Is The The Master of Pipe-Band Showmanship and We are Thankful.

His  Teachings  and  Inspiration  Will  Echo  In  Eternity . . .                                                                                                             -Pipe-Major  Billy Dart

 

We  Are  Just  Band  of  Pipers  &  Drummers,  Having  Fun.

We  are  Very  Organized ,  We  Have  the  Vision ,  We  are  Focused  and  We  are  on  the  Rise.

It's   the   Vision   and   the   Passion   of   All   involved   that   will   Drive   Us   On ,

And   One   Day   We'll   Invite   You   To

 

CELTIC  THUNDER

the Keystone Automotive BIG show

2 0 0 9

L E A D I N G    T H E    W A Y !

 

 

Our Own Bagpipe Tune !

Composed ByPipe-Major  Billy  Dart

 

Titled:  CELTIC  THUNDER

"You  Can  Actually  Feel  The  Power

Of  The  Lion's  Heart  Beat  in  this  Music"

Watch for the music CD release early this Summer !

I  Am  "CELTIC  THUNDER"

 

irelflag.gif (7181 bytes) Having Fun is Priority One !  irelflag.gif (7181 bytes)

 

 

 

Please  Check  Back  Often  and  Watch  us  Grow

Click on our Celtic Lion to send us Questions & Comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What   We   Do   In   Life . . .   Echoes   In   Eternity