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The Alameda County Sheriff's Department Pipe Band

The Alameda County Sheriff's Pipe Band was formed in February of 1997 as a competing Grade II Pipe Band. Under the direction of Pipe Major Helen Gladden and Drum Sergeant Tim Gladden (a husband and wife team), the band finished out its first year by placing first in the Drum Corps Salute, MSR, and Medley contests at the 1997 Pleasanton Highland Games in Pleasanton, California.

The band is sponsored by the Alameda County Sheriff's Department, which provides the band with a practice facility (not an easy item to come by for any band) and the much appreciated personal time and energy of Department members. The band is registered as a Law Enforcement Explorer Post with the San Francisco Bay Area Council, Boy Scouts of America. The band currently has eight members under the age of 21, and is busy teaching other young players who will someday take their place in the band's ranks.

The goal of the Alameda County Sheriff's Pipe Band is piping and drumming excellence and innovation. In addition to putting in countless hours at band practices, most members of the band are also active and accomplished solo competitors. The band plans to extent its travels to include contests in Vancouver and Seattle in 1998, and to compete at the World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland in 1999.

If you are interested in hiring the band or solo players for events or are a young talent interested in joining a Grade II band, please contact the Band Manager, Bob Dunsire, at (510) 426-1067.

links:

  • Alameda County Sheriff's Pipe Band homepage
    Courtesy of Helen Gladden: September, 1997