Once again, the air was filled with laughter, music, shouts of excitement and awe, and the skirl of bagpipes. The 39th Annual Highland Games and Celtic estimate opened to massive crowds and a new layout, with more food, more music and more clans represented than ever. Over 5500 people enjoyed the weekend, marred only by a very wet Sunday morning, but once it cleared, the sky was clear and the fun continued. Thank you to all who worked, played, sold, and fed our patrons - and thank you, Harrison Conty, again, for making this one of the premiere events on the Gulf Coast.

We were privileged to play the march in for the new graduates of this outstanding academy, and to welcome the new peace officers into their brotherhood in blue. This performance was possibly the best one we have done. Over all too soon.

St John’s Pipes and Drums participated in the Gulfport Fire Academy graduation by piping in the Honor Guard and the Academy graduates. This is a duty we enjoy and support. These new grads will serve and protect as new firefighters, and we wish them well as they begin their careers.

Thanks for the photos, Jenny Coates!

668 names of lives lost in battle are listed at the Mississippi Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Ocean Springs, and St. John’s Pipers were there to add atmosphere and good bagpipe tunes. Three drummers and four pipers provided music before the ceremony, then played the Retreat to close it out.

According to the Director, our presence notched up this annual event and made a real difference. He was pleased they could present Vietnam War Veterans medallions to some of our members. We hope we will have another opportunity to work together.

The guest speaker for the Memorial Day program was retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Rob Manness. 88 names in the memorial are not paired with a photograph, but the memorial’s Buy-a-Brick Program hopes to change that. Ceremonies like this make sure that those who died in the line of duty will always be remembered, and it was our honor to assist.

Pirates, Cowboys, exotic animals and a whole slew of vendors and food trucks gathered to raise funds for the Special Olympics and hold the annual Gulf Coast Renaissance and Pirate Festival. The day was filled with music, dancing, pirate shows, jousting, belly dancing and gunfights and a slew of stage performances covering the Santa Rosa County Fairgrounds in Milton, Florida. A great time for all, with our special guest Bill Muzzy on a grand Saturday - overcast, cool and humid, typical Scottish weather! 

Doc and Eyler joined the Hattiesburg “Hub City Highlanders” and played the Royal Court into the ballroom at the Golden Nugget 11 Jan 2024. Melodies played were the Mardi Gras Tune, Scotland the Brave, Murdo’s Wedding, Rowan Tree, and Amazing Grace The Gulf Coast Carnival Association, since 1908, is Biloxi’s home of Mardi Gras and the Mississippi Coasts oldest and most prestigious Carnival organization. GCCA leads the way in providing the biggest and greatest free show on the Coast Mardi Gras Day. 

St. John’s Pipers piped in the traditional haggis, then provided Scottish entertainment for the guests at St. John’s Episcopal Church for a Burns Night dinner in January of 2024. Harold gave the Address to the Haggis, Eyler played the harp, and Bill, Josh, Steve, Quinn and James played their pipes, with Coco playing bass drum. It was a great night to dress in Scots garb and enjoy each other’s company!

St. John’s Pipers were in attendance as family, friends, and colleagues of fallen George County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremy Malone said goodbye one last time. Deputy Powell was killed in the line of duty while conducting a traffic stop. We were honored to serve our law enforcement brothers in mourning the loss of one of our own. Special thanks to pipers Bill Muzzy and Quinn Chastain who welcomed a guest piper from another agency, and to Drummer Eyler Coates who kept them in time.

The Annual Wreaths Across America ceremony was held at the Biloxi National Veterans Cemetery, and our little band was there to play and support. We had a great time in the very cool wind at the Ceremony Saturday morning. It is always a delight to see how well received we are. Thanks and congrats to all who participated!

Pipers and drummers from four states assembled under cloudy but warm skies at the Annual H&I festival to play, have fun and generally hang out. Vendors sold pipes and accessories along with kilts, sporrans and general garb, as well as Scottish and Irish food and drink. Highland athletes demonstrated strength and skills, with hammer throw, caber tossing and sheaf toss, the girls showed they were just as competitive as the boys!

Pipe bands, featuring the Hub City Highlanders from Hattiesburg under P/M Matt Beale, created music all day, and the Clans educated visitors on their own history and roots. In the evening on the Saturday, Highland Reign, the Jollies and Red McWilliams led the enthusiastic audience in songs and dance, while the sun set over a very successful event. Sunday morning, we gathered the Clans for a piping parade and a Kirking of the Tartans service, and we celebrated our veterans as the heroes they are. Food was amazing, the hard work of the festival organizers was evident in how seamless these events appear.

For two glorious days, we celebrated being Celtic!

Harold and Bill C played a medley prior to the meeting of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, Grand Commandery of the South, Mississsippi Chapter luncheon. The tunes played were Scotland the Brave, Rowan Tree, Murdo’s Wedding, and Scotland the Brave reprise, then on moving indoors when the rain started, Corriechollie and Terribus, followed by Flowers of the Forest (Harold solo), the Dark Isle (Bill C solo), ending with Going Home. The banners of Canada’s Priory were on display as we proudly represented our affiliation to the Order in Mississippi. 

Once again, we were busy supporting the bases in our region with pipers presenting our music and time to support 9/11 ceremonies. Pipers Quinn and Bill C were there to play for the numerous attendees who assembled to remember the day where innocent Americans were targeted in a terrorist attack that will never be forgotten. “Amazing Grace” was our tribute to the fallen and families whose lives were devastated in those fateful hours. We will never forget.

A fly-over of five law enforcement helicopters, Congressman Mike Ezell, a massed turn out of first responders of all stripes as well as over 800 runners and walkers heard our pipers and drummer play “Amazing Grace” following the National Anthem. Eyler on snare, Quinn, Harold and Bill C on pipes.

August 31, 2023

Quinn and Bill C both represented the SJP group in the Gulf Coast VA Regional Creative Arts Talent Competition - and both put on such good performances they won First Place in each of their categories!

Their performances were recorded and will be submitted to a National competition. Winners of this national round will be awarded their prizes in our capital city - and may even be invited to perform!

Last year, Quinn placed THIRD in the Nationals. Not a bad performance for little old Ocean Springs Mississippi! 

St John's Pipers have been called upon for several years to perform at the closing dinner and awards ceremony for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic held every June at the Golden Nugget Casino and Resort in Biloxi. It is an honor and privilege to do this, and each year we look forward to assist.

We support the Gulfport Fire Department Honor Guard with piping for numerous events. We also have played for other departments, including Biloxi Police Department and the VA, supporting their ceremonial needs for many years. It is a singular honor to be a part of these amazing and dedicated professionals.

St. John's Pipers perform at the opening of all Harrison County Law Enforcement Academy Graduation ceremonies. These are usually held quarterly. We add a special pomp and circumstance as the graduates file in the auditorium. Piping has been associated with law enforcement since the days of the Irish immigrants in the 1860’s who originally gravitated to policing and fire protection because they were a large proportion of the hell's kitchen area of Manhattan during the initial waves of English (not British) colonisation of New York. The area was rough and difficult to police, and as the Irish gangs arose from the tumult, Irish police were hired as a bridge to monitor this community. Once established, with more than 25% of the force Irish or Scots, this acted as an entry path for future generations of celts to be hired, mentored and groomed for the job. They brought with them the kilt, drums and pipes of their Celtic heritage, a tradition which has persisted to this day.

St Patrick’s Day Parade, Biloxi, 2023 - St.J P was there. “Play Low A…” Here, Doc tunes new piper Josh before setting the rest of the band in time for the parade.

Tunes played

Scotland the Brave, Rowan Tree, Murdo’s Wedding, Scotland the Brave.

We sounded really good. Individual performances by our pipers before the March off included Corriechollie, Terribus, Pikeman’s March and the two retreats Green Hills and Battle is O’er.

Once released, we all went to Patio 44 as usual for beers and some tunes for the patrons. Thanks, Patio 44 staff! As always!