Our History

The Notre Dame Bagpipe Band can trace its roots to 1949, when the Irish Guard was formed as a bagpiping unit in the Notre Dame Marching Band. While the Irish Guard impressed many people with their stature and marching ability, it was quickly discovered that the bagpipes do not behave well in the late-fall weather in South Bend. The chill air condenses moisture on the reeds, killing the sound. Additionally, the relatively small number of Guardsmen made the pipes hard to hear in the roar of Notre Dame Stadium. The piping duties of the Irish Guard were abandoned in 1954, but the ceremonial Irish Guard remained.

The pipes were down at Notre Dame until 1987 when Paul Harren '91, an avid piper, formed a band in his sophomore year. The band grew slowly, performing at a variety of small gigs and events. Successive student pipers and drummers have helped it thrive ever since. The band became an official student club and acquired pipes and drums. The band has a dual mission of performing with the pipes and teaching other students how to play them. The band provides most of the bagpipes, drums, and uniforms to its members.

When the band re-emerged after splitting with the Irish Guard, it did not have the rights to the official Notre Dame tartan, so the pipers wrapped bed sheets and blankets around their waists to make kilts. In 2000, a talented group of freshmen with previous piping experience came to Notre Dame, and by the 2001 football season, the band was marching on campus for the first time. By mid season, the band acquired gently used kilts through the generosity of the Irish Guard. The band also began to build a drum line that played traditional syncopated bagpipe beats as well as some of their own compositions.

In 2011, at the request of Coach Brian Kelly, the bagpipe band began marching the football players into the stadium during the player walk at all home football games. The pipers and drummers now wear distinctive uniforms with kilts and plaids in the official Notre Dame tartan, glengarry bonnets, and black vests or doublets (distinct from the feather bonnets and red doublets worn by the Irish Guard). You can always find the bagpipes around campus on game day. They perform four hours before game time in front of the main building (the golden dome) and numerous other times at other locations. Bagpipes are loud, so if you are trying to find the band, just listen and follow the sound.

Since 2014, the NDPB has also been accompanying the Chicago Journeymen Plumbers Local Union 130 for the annual St. Patrick's day parade in Chicago. They can be seen in the parade itself as well as piping and drumming on the boats that dye the Chicago river green.

Most recently, in 2024, the band joined the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association. In March, the band competed at the Ohio Valley Indoor Competition at the College of Wooster, OH. They look forward to many more competitions in the EUSPBA in the years to come.

Band Alumni

NDPB Alumni! Please help us complete this list. Send any corrections or changes to bagpipes@nd.edu

  • Sebastian Benedetto - Piper / Pipe Major - Biological Sciences, Class of 2026
  • Evan Johnston - Snare / Drum Sergeant - Civil Engineering, Class of 2026
  • Jack Murray - Piper - Biochemistry - Class of 2028
  • Lizzie Chun - Piper - Biological Sciences, Class of 2027
  • Finley Jean Shinnick - Piper - Mathematics / Biology, Class of 2027
  • Jordan Ramirez - Snare - Computer Science, Class of 2027
  • Joe DiCola - Piper - Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2026
  • Max Turner - Piper - Electrical Engineering, Class of 2026
  • Jerome Korten - Bass - Accountancy, Class of 2026
  • Sam Viner - Bass - American Studies, Class of 2026
  • Charlotte Cardarella - Piper - Anthropology / Arabic, Class of 2025
  • Gordie McDonell - Piper - Chemical Engineering, Class of 2025
  • K. Blouch - Piper - Electrical Engineering, Class of 2025
  • Sam Megown - Piper - Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2025
  • Timothy Du - Piper - International Economics / Statistics, Class of 2025
  • Zachary Schulte - Piper - Biochemistry, Class of 2025
  • Matthew Guarnuccio - Piper / Pipe Major - Accountancy, Class of 2024
  • Alexander Frank - Snare - Chemical Engineering, Class of 2024
  • Allie O’Brien - Piper - Computer Science, Class of 2024
  • Andrew Pelham - Piper - Computer Science, Class of 2024
  • Anton Lee - Bass - Computer Science, Class of 2024
  • Chloe Coddington - Piper - Physics, St. Mary's Class of 2024
  • Delaney Clark - Piper - Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2024
  • Eleanor Zahorick - Piper - Elementary Education, St. Mary's Class of 2024
  • Emily Volpe - Piper - Biology, St. Mary's Class of 2024
  • Gavin Dooley - Piper - Mathematics / Global Affairs, Class of 2024
  • Olivia Ortega - Piper - History / Political Science / Classics, Class of 2024
  • Wes Harris - Piper - Design, Class of 2024
  • Jack Harrington - Piper / Pipe Major - Architecture, Class of 2023
  • Megan O'Donnell - Tenor / Drum Sergeant - Electrical Engineering, Class of 2023
  • Dan Lynch - Piper - Economics - Class of 2023
  • Alexandra Mesquita - Piper - Computing with Applied Mathematics, St. Mary's Class of 2023
  • Hannah Huelskamp - Piper - Accounting, St. Mary's Class of 2023
  • Isabelle Latsch - Piper - Speech Language Pathology / Clinical Psychology, St. Mary's Class of 2023
  • Katherine Peak - Piper - Accounting, St. Mary's Class of 2023
  • Maggie Murray - Piper - History / Film, Television, and Theatre, Class of 2023
  • Megan Gallian - Bass - Neuroscience & Behavior, Class of 2023
  • Sean Dolan - Piper - Accountancy & Classics, Class of 2023
  • Collin Leigh - Piper - Accountancy, MS Class of 2022
  • Phyllis Medina - Mace - Staff, 2014-2022
  • Thomas Garvey - Piper / Pipe Major - Class of 2021
  • Brendan Hogan - - Business, Class of 2021
  • Eddie Donnelly - Snare - Theology / Classics / Liturgical Music Ministry, Class of 2021
  • He Duan - Piper - Business, Class of 2021
  • David Chang - Piper - Law, Class of 2020
  • Redmond Tuttle - Piper - Program of Liberal Studies, Class of 2020
  • William (Billy) Doll - Piper - Class of 2020
  • Chris Kerzich - Piper - Chicago EMBA, 2019
  • Felix Mayorga Alvarez - Bass - Business, Class of 2019
  • Francis Hagan, III - Piper - Class of 2019
  • Ryan Doyle - Piper - Science Business, Class of 2019
  • Tristan McGrath - Bass - Class of 2019
  • Tyler Johnson - Piper / Pipe Major - Business, Class of 2018
  • Emily Medina - Snare / Drum Sergeant - Biochemistry, Class of 2018
  • Alexandre Lemaignen - Piper - Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2018
  • Allegra Wallingford - Snare - Psychology, Class of 2018
  • Brynn Alexander - Piper - Accountancy and Film, Television, and Theater, Class of 2018
  • Dylan Goitz - Piper - Psychology, Class of 2018
  • Joshua Meyers - - Arabic & French, Class of 2018
  • Kaitlin Salyer - - Physics & French, Class of 2018
  • Marco Medina, Jr. - Bass - Business, Holy Cross College, Class of 2018
  • Matthew Domenech - Bass - Class of 2018
  • Mike Finan - Piper - Economics & Political Science, Class of 2018
  • Patrick Koehr - - Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2018
  • Alan Liddell - Bass - Applied & Computational Math and Statistics, PhD 2017
  • Jacob Ricci - Snare - Neuroscience and Behavior, Class of 2017
  • James Burke - Piper - Finance & Political Science, Class of 2017
  • Laura Gruszka - Snare - English and Music, Honors in Creative Writing, Class of 2017
  • James Elliott - Piper / Pipe Major - Chemical Engineering, Class of 2016
  • Braeden Fallet - - Music & Theology, Class of 2016
  • Daniel Suma - Piper - Chemical Engineering, Class of 2016
  • Dylan Klee - Piper - Science Preprofessional & Greek and Roman Civilization, Class of 2016
  • Aedan Cannon - Piper / Pipe Major - Accounting and Arabic, Class of 2015
  • Brandon Peterson - Snare / Drum Sergeant - Theology, Class of 2007, PhD 2015
  • Gordon MacDougall - Snare / Drum Sergeant - Science Business, Class of 2015
  • Kari Quinlan - Piper / Pipe Sergeant - Applied & Computational Mathematics & Statistics, Class of 2015
  • Graeme Quinn - - Law, JD 2015
  • John Kelley - Snare - History & Law, Class of 2011 & JD 2015
  • Joseph Hess - Tenor - Law, JD 2015
  • Colin Patience - Piper / Pipe Major - Architecture, Class of 2014
  • Eugene Freeman - - Information Tech. Management, Class of 2014
  • Mackenzie Warren - - Physics, MS 2014
  • Neil Flattery - - Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2014
  • Piyush Ranade - Tenor - Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2011, MS 2014
  • Thomas O'Sullivan - - Finance & Economics, Class of 2014
  • Chris Davis - - Business Administration, Class of 2013
  • Melissa Jordan - Piper - Anthropology, Class of 2013
  • Will Streit - Snare - Economics & Psychology, Class of 2013
  • J.P. MacPherson - Piper / Pipe Major - Theology & Philosophy, Class of 2012
  • Devin Johndrow - - Holy Cross College, Class of 2012
  • Maria Sheehan - Snare - St. Mary's Class of 2012
  • Ryan Nelson - Snare - Architecture, Class of 2012
  • Steve Johnson - Bass / Drum Major - Class of 2011
  • Chris Knoedler - Piper - Sociology, Class of 2011
  • Greg Angle - Tenor/ Bass - Computer Science, Class of 2011
  • John Markiewicz - Piper - Chemistry, PhD 2011
  • Kyle Higdon - - Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2011
  • Mike Korcynski - Piper - Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2011
  • Nate (Philip) Hall - - History, Class of 2011
  • Rachael Curtin - Snare - French, Class of 2011
  • Ryan Slaney - Piper - Chinese & Aerospace Engineering - Class of 2011
  • Tom Pecsok - Tenor - Finance, Class of 2011
  • Michael Kelley - Piper / Pipe Major - Philosophy & Law, Class of 2007 & JD 2010
  • Taylor Blachley - Piper / Pipe Major - Mathematics, Class of 2010
  • Aiden McKiernan - - English & Medieval Studies, Class of 2010
  • Alex Miller - - Early Christian Studies, MA 2010
  • Brittney Dudley - - Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2010
  • Charlie Jain - - Anthropology, Preprofessional Studies, Class of 2010
  • Chris Barron - - Economics and Peace Studies, Class of 2010
  • Greg Robinson - - Political Science, Class of 2010
  • Joe McCrary - Piper - Mathematics & Medieval Studies, Class of 2010
  • Joe Scolaro - - Biology & Philosophy - Class of 2010
  • Matt Russel - Snare - Physics, Class of 2010
  • Mike O'Connor - Piper - English & Education, Class of 2008, MEd 2010
  • Nick Bloom - Snare - Philosophy, Class of 2010
  • David Wartko - Snare / Bass / Drum Sergeant - Mathematics, Class of 2009
  • Adele Fleury - - Computer Science, Class of 2009
  • Amy Curtis - Tenor - Psychology, Preprofessional Studies, Class of 2009
  • Eric Friedman - Snare - Masters of Business Administration, Class of 2009
  • Mark McLaughlin - - Chemistry / Philosophy, Class of 2009
  • Fernando Quijano - Piper - Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2008
  • Josh Meyer - Piper - Political Science, Class of 2008
  • Meghan O'Neill - Piper - Law, JD 2008
  • Patrick Donoghue - Snare - Chemistry, PhD 2008
  • Rachel Murphy - Piper - Environmental Geosciences, Class of 2008
  • Sal Thomas - Piper - American Studies, Class of 2008
  • Zack Lemmon - Piper - Biology, Class of 2008
  • Andrew Pool - Mace / Drum Major - Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2007
  • Bryan Nelson - Piper - History, Greek & Roman Civilization, Class of 2007
  • Bill Jenista - Piper / Pipe Major - Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2006
  • Brian Zampell - Snare - Civil Engineering, Class of 2004, MBA 2006
  • Danielle Taylor - Tenor - History, Class of 2006
  • Erin Henderson - Snare - Biology, Class of 2006
  • Ron Thompson - Bass - MBA, Class of 2006
  • Sally Head - Snare - Biology, Class of 2006
  • Dan McCabe - Piper / Pipe Major - Economics & Accountancy, Class of 2004 & MS 2005
  • Tim Culbertson - Piper / Pipe Major - Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2005
  • Andy Hagans - Piper - Management Information Systems, Class of 2005
  • Anson Rhodes - Snare - Law, JD 2005
  • Chris Lagos - - Architecture, Class of 2005
  • Eric Monger - Piper - Art Studio, Class of 2005
  • Joe Harmon - Piper - Marketing, Class of 2005
  • Justin Sparazynski - Tenor / Snare - Education, Class of 2005
  • Joe Arico - Piper / Pipe Major - Chemistry, Class of 2004
  • Andrew Lappin - Piper - Chemical Engineering, Class of 2004
  • Carolyn Blessing - Bass - Biochemistry, Class of 2004
  • Jeff Stein - Piper - Biology, Class of 2004
  • Keith Massey - Piper - Law, JD 2004
  • Mike Schultz - Piper - Film, Television, & Theatre, Class of 2004
  • Scott Brodfuehrer - - Computer Science, Class of 2004
  • Timothy Prol - - Psychology & Philosophy, Class of 2004
  • Will Ryan - Piper - Computer Science, Class of 2004
  • Chad DeBolt - - Civil Engineering, Masters of Business Administration, Class of 2003
  • Clay Miller - Tenor - Sociology & Philosophy - Class of 2003
  • Luis Molina - Piper - Finance, Class of 2003
  • Michael Donohue - Piper - Sociology, Class of 2003
  • Tom Apker - Bass - Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2003
  • Kathleen Hourican - Piper - Finance, Class of 2002
  • Pat Virtue - Piper - Computer Science, Class of 2002
  • Joe Smith - Piper / Pipe Major- Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2001
  • Andy Malec - Drummer/Piper - Chemistry, Class of 2001
  • Rebecca Glatz - Piper - Environmental Geosciences, Class of 2001
  • Sharon Farrell - Piper - Government & International Studies, Computer Applications, Class of 2001
  • Tim Bodony - Piper / Bass - Government & International Studies, Theology, Class of 2001
  • Joe Volini - Piper / Pipe Major - Government & International Studies, Class of 2000
  • Lisa Hannan - Piper - Computer Science, Class of 2000
  • Patrick Boulafentis - Piper - Class of 1999
  • Sean Meehan - Piper - Finance, Class of 1999
  • Dan Murphy - Piper / Pipe Major - Economics & German, Class of 1998
  • Trent Maurer - Piper - Psychology and History, Class of 1998
  • Derek Mullen - Piper / Pipe Major - Accountancy, Class of 1997
  • Martin Hughes - Piper - Chemistry, PhD 1997
  • Sara Hayes - Piper - Anthropology, Class of 1995
  • Dana (O'Leary) Pryor - Piper - Accountancy, Class of 1994
  • Kevin Burke - Piper - Government & International Studies, History, Class of 1993
  • Treven Santicola - Piper - Program of Liberal Studies, Class of 1993
  • Paul Harren - Piper - Aerospace Engineering, Class of 1991
  • Don Cavett - Piper - Foreign Marketing, Class of 1955
  • Kevin Carothers - Piper / Pipe Major -
  • Olivia Crowley - Piper - Graduate School (Romance Languages and Literatures)
  • Baxter Curry - Bass -
  • Breda Moran - Piper - Geriatric Social Work, St. Mary's Class of
  • Brendan Beck - -
  • Bridget Murphy - -
  • Daniel Brown - -
  • Daniel Kavanaugh - -
  • James Maher - -
  • Jasper Twigg - Piper -
  • John Burns - -
  • Kelly Horner - -
  • Megan Wienandy - -

Band Faculty

  • Dan Gezelter - Piper / Faculty Advisor - Still at ND
  • Dominic Vachon - Piper / Faculty Advisor - Psychology & Theology, 1980, MDiv 1985, still at ND
  • Robert Howland - Faculty Advisor