The City of Tulsa Pipes and Drums (COTPD) is under the directorship of Pipe Major Bill Tetrick. COTPD is a non-profit organization and has been performing since 1976.
The COTPD aims to engage and enhance the Scottish and Celtic music scene by playing the Great Highland Bagpipes and Drumming at diverse venues and events. The band's mission is to bring the energy of the Scottish Highland culture to people everywhere by performing traditional and contemporary piping arrangements across the region in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
COTPD is a member of the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association. The band competes at one of the nations largest highland games in Estes Park, Colorado. Besides placing in competitions, the band has numerous awards for individual piping and drumming including the 2005 Champion Supreme Drum Major in the MWPBA.
The band was invited to to take place in the Centennial Massed Pipes & Drums in Oklahoma City on Oct. 14, 2007. The band considered it a privilege to have been a part of Oklahoma's 100th birthday celebration and the "State's Grandest Parade".
The COTPD performs for various events and is involved with many school systems showcasing the Scottish heritage and music to students in elementary to high school. The band also performs at various Oklahoma State University campus's events, including their commencement ceremonies. Additionally, the band performs at The University of Oklahoma (Tulsa Campus) and Connors State College commencement ceremonies in Muskogee. The band also performs at TCC each year for their 'Global Fest' and is a fixture at the Oklahoma Scottish Festival every year September in Tulsa.
The band had the honor of performing with world renowned Scottish recording artist Isla St. Clair when she toured the United States. More recently, the band was invited to perform with 'Pipes & Sticks on Route 66' in April 2012 while they toured the United States.
Tulsa Tartan
The City of Tulsa Pipes and Drums proudly wears the Tulsa District Tartan. The Tulsa Tartan was the first registered District Tartan outside the U.K. The tartan was originally registered with the Scottish Tartans Society. It is now registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans. Designed in 1978 by Ed Morrison, Doug Crawford, Bea Notely, and Chief Chinnube MacIntosh to distinctly reflect the Tulsa area.
Red - is for the Native Americans (Oklahoma is a Choctaw word which means 'Home of the Red Man')
Black - is for the oil that brought prosperity to the state
Blue - is for Oklahoma's many rivers, lakes and streams
Green - is for the lush grassland whence "Green Country" gets it's name
Giving Back
While the COTPD does charge for many of it's performances, we also perform at events like the annual Meals on Wheels fundraiser, Veterans day events, Police, Fire, and Sheriffs graduations, and memorial services.
As schedules allow, many of the "piping" members of the band willingly donate personal time to play at nursing homes, "make a wish" type events, in local schools, and churches.
Many of these "performances" are given freely, and in the spirit of simply sharing the love of the great highland pipes, while also adding to that 'special event".