Welcome to Albeni Falls Pipes & Drums

The Albeni Falls Pipes and Drums Band was founded in the year 2000 by two employees of the Albeni Falls Dam, located near Priest River, Idaho. With little or no experience in playing the bagpipes, or Scottish drums, the band started with six people who shared nothing more than the love of Scottish and Irish music. Bill Prater, one of the founders of the band, served as Pipe Major from 2000 - 2007 and is still an active member.

Albeni Falls Pipes & Drums was formed as a fun band in which all skill levels of pipers, drummers and Highland dancers could participate and enjoy performing in our communities. The band is based in Sandpoint, Idaho, but the members live in many of our communities in Idaho & Washington.

Support for the band over the past few years has been overwhelming. Donations to the band have allowed it to purchase instruments and uniforms for those who may not initially be able to afford them. The band's annual Benefit Concert also helps to purchase the needed equipment. The Albeni Falls Pipes & Drums is a non-profit community band that plays for many events in Idaho, Washington, Montana and Canada each year.

The band welcomes new members of all ages and also offers, at no charge, lessons on the bagpipes, drums, and in Highland dancing. Rehearsals are held Saturdays from 8:00 A.M. until noon at the First Lutheran Church, 526 S. Olive Ave., Sandpoint, Idaho. Come join the in the fun and experience the beauty, history and tradition of Scottish music with the Albeni Falls Pipes & Drums!

Our Mission Statement

"Albeni Falls Pipes and Drums of North Idaho is committed and genuinely dedicated to encouraging and supporting the interest of all individuals involving music, history, and heritage relating to Scottish, Irish, Celtic and other associated interests. Our diversified and multi-ethnic organization provides, free of charge, lessons for willing participants in Scottish/Irish bagpipes, drums and Highland dancing. Our goal is to bring Celtic culture to our youth, and any person interested, to preserve and keep these traditions alive through education and performance to future generations."

APRIL 6

NATIONAL TARTAN DAY

Think the highland games and gatherings are the only places or events where you can show your Scottish pride by wearing your clan tartan? How about weddings, or proms, or on holidays? A gentleman in full regalia is quite a site at a formal Christmas party! But there is one occasion we tend to miss because it comes around so quietly most of us don’t remember until it’s past!

Woodrow Wilson said of the Scots, "Every line of strength in American history is a line colored with Scottish blood."
The contribution of immigrant Scots upon North America is massive and these people have remained proud of their heritage.
Numerous groups and societies throughout Canada and America have taken the anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath (1320) as their national date to celebrate their Scottish roots.
On December 19th 1991, in response to action initiated by the Clans & Scottish Societies of Canada, the Ontario Legislature passed a resolution proclaiming April 6th as Tartan Day, following the example of other Canadian provinces.
America followed suit on March 20th 1998, when Senate Resolution 155 (S.Res. 155), proposed by US Senate Republican majority leader Trent Lott, was passed unanimously.
The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:
S. Res. 155
Whereas April 6 has a special significance for all Americans, and especially those Americans of Scottish descent, because the Declaration of Arbroath, the Scottish Declaration of Independence, was signed on April 6, 1320 and the American Declaration of Independence was modeled on that inspirational document;
Whereas this resolution honors the major role that Scottish Americans played in the founding of this Nation, such as the fact that almost half of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Scottish descent, the Governors in 9 of the original 13 States were of Scottish ancestry, Scottish Americans successfully helped shape this country in its formative years and guide this Nation through its most troubled times;
Whereas this resolution recognizes the monumental achievements and invaluable contributions made by Scottish Americans that have led to America's preeminence in the fields of science, technology, medicine, government, politics, economics, architecture, literature, media, and visual and performing arts;
Whereas this resolution commends the more than 200 organizations throughout the United States that honor Scottish heritage, tradition, and culture, representing the hundreds of thousands of Americans of Scottish descent, residing in every State, who already have made the observance of Tartan Day on April 6 a success;
Whereas these numerous individuals, clans, societies, clubs, and fraternal organizations do not let the great contributions of the Scottish people go unnoticed:
Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate designates April 6 of each year as "National Tartan Day."

Wear your tartan with pride, anytime, anywhere, but especially on April 6, our National Tartan Day!