Pipe band to represent state in Scotland

The Sierra Highlanders Pipe Band is launching an effort to return to Glasgow, Scotland, to compete in the 2008 Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association's World Pipe Band Championship, said Piper Major Burch Palmer.

The Sierra Highlanders, founded in 1961, is one of the oldest pipe bands on the West Coast. In 2005, it became the only Nevada organization to have competed in the World Championship in Scotland.

The band will kick off its Back To Scotland fundraising tour with a concert at Virginia City's Piper's Opera House at 2 p.m. Saturday. Also appearing are the Sierra Highlanders Dancers and Tinker's Dam. The latter is a ceilidh - or Celtic party - band made up of members of the Sierra Highlanders playing a wide variety of instruments including guitar, tin whistle, and bodhran, the traditional drum of Ireland. This will be the Sierra Highlanders' fourth appearance at the historic venue.

"The band has been honing its skills by producing its second CD," Palmer said. The newly released "Back From Scotland" CD is on sale as part of the band's fundraising for the trip.

"It costs about $40,000 to send the band to Scotland to represent Nevada," said John Loguirato, president of the Sierra Highlanders non-profit organization. "In 2005, the community was amazingly supportive, buying our first CD, attending concerts, and making tax-deductible donations. We took Nevada's name to four competitions in Scotland, performing before audiences that numbered in the tens of thousands."

"Hearing any concert at Piper's Opera House is a moving experience, but the hall seems to have been built for a pipe band." said Ron James, Nevada's state historic preservation officer and master of ceremonies for the concert. "This is one of the best places to hear the Sierra Highlanders, and this shouldn't be missed."

Part of the proceeds from the sale of tickets will benefit Piper's Opera House, which is operated by a non-profit foundation in the midst of the building's restoration.

Tickets are $12 each and are available at the door or in advance. For more information go online to www.sierrahighlanderspipeband. com/ or e-mail saj_1@charter.net or call 885-8320.