Knoxville Pipes and Drums

To accomplish the mission, the band plays a number of venues throughout East Tennessee and the surrounding region. The band also provides free piping lessons and drumming lessons. Background The Knoxville Pipes and Drums evolved from three pipers who began meeting in June, 1991, under the direction of Tom Gordon. From the beginning the band offered free lessons, In 1992, the Scottish Society of Knoxville assumed sponsorship of the growing band. Exercising true Scottish frugality, and with a generous loan of $3,000 from an anonymous donor, the band purchased the Mackenzie kilts formerly worn by another pipe band. By 1993, not only had the number of pipers grown, but a small drum corps had also evolved making the Knoxville Pipes and Drums a reality. The band still offers free drumming lessons and piping lessons. Since the Band's founding under Pipe Major Tom Gordon, other pipe majors have included the late Bob Pennington, and Don Cain. The band is presently under the direction of Pipe Major Andrew Payzant.