Amherst pipe band to play winter classic
by KEN BARTOLOTTA Reporter

On Jan. 1, as Orchard Park and Ralph Wilson Stadium become the center of the hockey universe, television viewers and attendees of the outdoor Winter Classic will be treated to a touch of Celtic spirit.

As both the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins take the ice for the game, they will be accompanied by the sounds of the Celtic Spirit Pipe Band, an Amherst group whose popularity and membership has been steadily growing since its beginning almost a decade ago.

Beginning as little more than 11 players with an appreciation for Celtic music, the group now boasts 25 members and what band manager Sarah Burns says is a loyal following.

"It's definitely an exciting opportunity for us," she said of the "Ice Bowl" performance. "Right now our biggest concern for the event is weather. We're probably as concerned about the weather as the coaches and players are."

Typical garb for the band involves kilts, jackets and a cape, and for Burns, all of it will be needed to combat what could be a volatile day as far as weather is concerned.

"We're more or less prepared for the cold weather," she said. "But our main concern is that nothing happens to our instruments."

According to Burns, the event won't be the band's first pairing with the Sabres, having also performed at HSBC Arena several years ago for St. Patrick's Day.

"We have a fairly good relationship with the Sabres," she said. "The year after the strike was when we first played with them."

While there are other Celtic pipe bands in Western New York, what separates the Celtic Spirit Pipe Band from others is the release of two compact discs.

"As far as I know we are the only one to release two CDs," said Burns. "There are other bands like this, but we're the first to do that."

The band features instruments that range from flutes and bagpipes to keyboards and harmonicas.

Though the band mostly participates in festivals and parades throughout the Western New York area and more notably in Amherst, the group has gone outside those bounds, once opening a show for Rod Stewart at the HSBC Arena.

With members of various ages, the group bills itself as a family band for people of all ages, and while popularity and membership has fluctuated, Burns feels 25 members is the perfect number.

"Right now, I think that's all I can handle," she said. "We're involved with a lot of things, so I'd like to keep it at that number."

For more information on the Celtic Spirit Pipe Band, visit www. celticspiritpipeband. com.