About

Bulldog Pipes and Drums was founded in 2005 by John Errico and John Graham. Errico has been an avid piper having participated in his high school pipe and drum corps for four years. After coming to Yale he lamented the fact that interest in Yale’s old pipe and drum corps had dissipated. He decided to distribute flyers all over campus advertising free bagpiping lessons and Graham turned out to be one of his most enthusiastic students. Together the two decided that they renew the club and founded Bulldog Pipes and Drums in the fall of 2005.

Since then the two have been raising campus awareness about the club. On the second week of school after the club had been founded Yale Daily News printed an article about the club on the front page. Now the club has a diverse group of members: grad students, undergrads, experienced pipers like Errico, students who have never seen a set of bagpipes before, students with Scottish blood and students who just like the sound of bagpipe music. The club has come a long way. It now has its own set of 8 practice chanters for the development of piping skills. Bulldog Pipes and Drums believes in trying to tailor practice sessions to the skill level of its students. The beginners start out on Ode to Joy and work their way to Steam Train to Mallaig. The group will soon start performances at various Yale and New Haven events.

We hope in the long run to be able to raise enough money to purchase enough pipes, snare drums and bass drums to field a full precision pipe and drum corps. Our ultimate goal is to impart the Yale campus with the means and spirit to continue the piping tradition long after Errico and Graham have graduated. We would greatly appreciate any and all support we can get. If you would like to make a donation to Bulldog Pipes and Drums, a not-for-profit Yale undergraduate organization, please click our Donations link for details.