“Getting to Know WU” had its second program Thursday, Oct. 5, featuring the James D. Randolph Kiltie Band. “Getting to Know WU” is a series of programs designed to help those on campus meet people and activities on campus and learn more about what they do.

Jeremy Olisar, instructor of music and director of the Kiltie Band, and Andrew Heisey, chairperson for the Fine Arts Department and four-year member of the band, opened the presentation by playing a short tune on the bagpipes.

“We are so thrilled to be able to share with you some things that we’ve been working on, and some exciting things here on campus,” Heisey said, after they were finished playing their instruments.

The presentation included an explanation of what bagpipes are, the history of the Kiltie Band at Waynesburg University and where the band is going now.

Using a backdrop and slides, Olisar and Heisey showed ancient images of bagpipes in the middle ages.

“We think of them as a Scottish instrument, it’s actually a middle-eastern instrument,” said Heisey. “They’ve taken many, many different forms…They originally were a small pipe instrument that you played in your mouth. It has two pipes. One was a drone and the other had holes on the instrument.”

Heisey said that animal skins were attached as airbags to the instrument to help keep the constant sound of the drone. He continued by explaining what the instruments were used for.

“Originally it is an outdoor instrument. It’s loud,” said Heisey. “They would use it in battles. Instead of having to yell signals, they could just put out a song and that told your army where to go and what to do.”

Olisar continued the presentation by explaining the different parts of the bagpipe as Heisey held up the parts for the audience to see.

“The bagpipe has nine notes,” said Olisar. “That’s it. You don’t have to worry about sharps or flats or anything like that. If you want to come down and learn the bagpipes, just nine notes, that easy.”

During the presentation, Olisar and Heisey showed off their new Kiltie Band logo, which is a silhouette of the late “Fuzzy” Randolph playing his bagpipes in addition to the band name, James D. Randolph Kiltie Band, and the university name.

“We’re thrilled to be able to honor him that way,” said Heisey.

The Kiltie Band, which started in 1949, was given a large donation by a woman named Mary Dennis Weaver for instruments and uniforms. According to Olisar, the first Kiltie Band was not just pipers, but included many instruments and even dancers, according to Olisar.

Olisar said he started his bagpipe experience at Carnegie Mellon University, where he got his undergraduate degree. There, he got to study with a man named Alasdair Gillies, who was known at the time as the number one piper in the world.

“Through my studies with him, my passion and knowledge of the bagpipes grew,” said Olisar. “During my student teaching, that’s when I got to meet Dr. Ronda DePreist, and the following year after graduation from Carnegie Mellon, I started as an adjunct in the music department here at the University.”

That same year, 2007, Olisar played bagpipes on a football field with Randolph. This year, Olisar was on the field once again, as the Kiltie Band showed off their new uniforms at Waynesburg’s 2017 Homecoming football game Sept. 30.

“We will be doing parades throughout the community, so people look out for us, and we also hope that maybe some of you will join us.”

The James D. Randolph Kiltie Band is open not only to students, but also to faculty and staff members and members of the community.

“We hope to keep our numbers growing and make this a strong tradition here on campus,” said Olisar.