The Allegheny and District Pipe Band and Seton Hill University are proud to announce that they have entered into a partnership agreement. As of August 2007, the Allegheny and District Pipe Band will become the Seton Hill University Pipe Band. The Pipe Band will continue to perform regionally and nationally, and has plans for an upcoming DVD and CD. The Seton Hill Pipe Band will also perform at Seton Hill University events, including Homecoming weekend in October 2007, and plans to change its official uniform to include the Seton tartan.

“The first two degrees granted at Seton Hill University in 1918 were both bachelor of music degrees,” says Dr. Curt Scheib, professor of music and chair of the Visual and Performing Arts division at Seton Hill. “For almost 90 years, Seton Hill University has supported music and the performing arts through both its university and community music programs. We think this partnership is a perfect fit for us.”

“We’re thrilled to have Seton Hill’s sponsorship, and hope to expand our partnership in the future to include the development of a piping and Scottish drumming program at the University,” said A.G. Lee, Jr., Seton Hill Pipe Band pipe major.

The Seton Hill Pipe Band (formerly the Allegheny and District Pipe Band) was formed in 1993 by pipe major A.G. Lee, Jr. of Greensburg, Pa., a former member of the Black Thistle Pipe Band. The band began competing at the grade 4 level in 1994 and won its first competition in September, 1994 in Williamsburg, Va. During the years following, the band competed from New York to Georgia and won 11 straight contests, a feat that had never been accomplished to that point, nor duplicated since. The band was rewarded with the Eastern United States Supreme Championship and designated the best overall band in grade 4. As a result, the band was thereafter elevated to grade 3, which is the highest level attained by any current Pennsylvania band. In ensuing years the band has continued to compete throughout the eastern U.S. and Canada, and finished in the top 10 at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland in 1999. Currently, the Seton Hill Pipe Band has 27 members and is instructing 7 new piping students, who will form their own grade 5 band. Members of the Seton Hill Pipe Band are: (Pipe Corps) Bryan Crable of Latrobe, Pa.; Keith Frazier; Joella Gearhard of Murrysville, Pa.; Mark Knox of Forest Hills, Cambria County, Pa.; A.G. Lee, Jr. of Greensburg, Pa.; Debra Lee, of Greensburg, Pa.; Bob Leslie; Megan McClure of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Erica Shaw Gruseck; George Stewart of Greensburg, Pa.; Danielle Szalanczy of Murrysville, Pa.; David Thompson of Grove City, Pa.; Andrew Welton of Grove City, Pa.; Dave Werkheiser of Beaver Falls, Pa.; Teresa Werkheiser of Beaver Falls, Pa.; Glenda Yingling; (Drum Corps) A.G. Lee, III of Harrison City, Pa.; Bill Campbell of Grove City, Pa.; Darren Humbert, of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Ian Lee of Harrison City, Pa.; Sean Lee of Harrison City, Pa.; Lee Lenhart of Ligonier, Pa.; Wayne Schaller of Greensburg, Pa.; George Stewart of Greensburg, Pa.; Zach Tanyer of Harrison City, Pa.; Hannah Whittaker of Pleasant Hills, Pa.; Jill Whittaker of Pleasant Hills, Pa. For more information on the Seton Hill Pipe Band, please visit www.adpb.net.