October 21, 2015
For the love of bagpipes Maryland Heights teen places third at national piping competition
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Make-and-Take Dishes
By Erica Van Buren You may not think there is much of a link between the music of Scotland and St. Louis County, but don’ tell that to Christian Rhoads, a 16-year-old piper from Maryland Heights. He’s participated in multiple competitions including the Midwest Pipe Band Association’s Championship Supreme in Grade 1 for 2015. He’s also been invited to two prestigious competitions both limited to the 10 best performers across North America. Rhoads attended the Nicol-Brown Amateur Invitational in Albany, New York on Oct. 10. Even though he was nervous he went on to do his best, placing third. The Nicol-Brown competition is modeled after Scotland’s Oban and Inverness competitions, the Olympics of Piping, the Nicol-Brown invitational provides enthusiastic top amateur pipers with a prestigious competition which sets a standard by which to judge their piping and a goal to direct their hours of practice. Rhoads then received an invitation to attend the George Sheriff Memorial Invitational Competition which is difficult to get into as an American. The competition will be held in Hamilton, Ontario on Nov. 21. Rhoads was always interested in playing the bagpipes. He remembers being four years old and being told that he was too young to be taught. The Rhoads family encouraged music as a hobby, as Rhoads two older brothers both played the drums growing up. When Rhoads reached the age of 11 it was finally time to learn starting with the fife, a small, high pitched, transverse flute that is similar to the piccolo, but louder and shriller. Learning the fife helped with learning to read music which then helped make learning the bagpipes easier. Rhoads also plays the penny whistle, a six holed wood wind instrument but prefers the bagpipes over anything else. Rhoads says that he wants to eventually learn to play the keyboard. When it comes to inspiring him to play he says he admires Stuart Liddell, a Scottish bagpipe player, known as the world’s most exciting piper and is noted for his excellent solo performances and recordings at numerous Simon Fraser University Pipe Band Concerts. Rhoads dedicates about two to three hours a day for practicing his bagpipes. When he’s preparing for a competition he
Community Voices
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By Rev. Larry A. Brown
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Students Expand Garden Photo by Erica Van Buren Christian Rhoads, a 16-year-old piper from Maryland Heights, finished in third place at the Nicol-Brown Amateur Invitational in Albany, New York.
dedicates four to six hours a day. When it comes to being dedicated his parents are extremely supportive, allowing him to practice for such long hours. They’re very apologetic to the neighbors, often joking saying that they’ve probably lost more than a handful of neighbors due to the loudness of the instrument. When it comes to bagpipe bands the options are limited in the St. Louis area. The St. Louis Caledonian, the Highlanders-Fire Fighters band, St. Louis County Police band and the John Ford which covers performances at parades are pretty much it when it comes to bands. The St. Louis Caledonia gives free lessons for those interested in learning but are unable to purchase the instrument. Rhoads works with instructor Matthew Pantaleoni who regularly competes in bagpipe competitions in Scotland. “After competing I get to relax and hang out with friends. Everyone is so supportive, even though it’s a competition,” said Rhoads. Rhoads considers his bagpipes his most prized possession. His grandpar-
ents purchased his first bagpipes and after saving up from working weddings and funeral gigs he was able to purchase his current bagpipes. When asked to describe himself in one word, Rhoads answered, “Dedication.”
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