Set #1 R.G. Hardie Bagpipes
This set came to the Highlanders in July 2018 from Lucy Valencia who contacted us on behalf of the family of Michelle Gleason whose family wanted them donated to a band which would use them with students. Michelle and Lucy were both members of the Ft. Dearborn Highlanders pipe band. As an aside, other former Highlanders who knew Lucy and Michelle include Jack Taylor and Trey and Barb Higgens who were fellow members of the Ft. Dearborn Highlanders.
Dan Tesch did some light refurbishing to the set and they went back into the case. Check out a YouTube video on the process.
In 2019 Dan sent his own pipes off to Brian Donaldson to be refurbished and he expected to be without them for a while so Dan played this set during 2019 and part of 2020. While Dan was playing them, several people commented on how good they sounded and Dan says the old L&M bag on the set is the best he’s ever played.
In November 2020 the pipes were given to then student Sawyer Koruba. In the spring of 2022 Sawyer became a member of the band and In the summer of 2023, Sawyer purchased his own pipes. Pictured below is the day the pipes were given to Sawyer and Sawyer with them in Scotland!
In October 2023, Michelle’s pipes made their way to Chandler Ellison who began taking lessons with the Highlanders in April 2023. Chandler, please take care of them and add to their history!
