By JOHN BENSON

Special to The Gazette

As a music education major about a decade ago at the University of Akron, Kate Wiley’s studies required she learned to play almost every musical instrument under the sun.

So when it came time to try out the bagpipe, the Litchfield Township native didn’t flinch.

Tim Wiley plays his bagpipes during the Celtic Eagle Pipe Band rehearsal Aug. 26 at First Presbyterian Church in Akron. (Andrew Dolph | Staff Photographer)

“My family is very Irish and Scottish, and considering I was a music major at Akron, I went to a concert and happened to be sitting next to a bagpipe band,” Wiley said. “So I thought, why don’t I start learning about pipes too? I was studying music education. Growing up I played piano and my major was tuba.”

She added, “It is an odd instrument, and this one has definitely been the biggest challenge. You have to coordinate your breathing, as well as your squeezing arm. You have to have at the same pressure so your arms and your lungs have to work together. It’s kind of weird.”

Little did she know at the time, this one concert would not only lead to meeting her future husband, Tim, but also a major fascination with the bagpipes.

Today, Wiley is a member of Celtic Eagle, a regional competition bagpipe band that this past summer came in first in its division at the St. Andrew’s Society of Detroit Highland Games and also second at the 2008 EUSPBA Ohio Valley Champion-ship Competition in Wellington.

Up next for the 15-member group of three snare drummers, a bass drummer, seven pipers and four students is the Ligonier Highland Games, which takes place Sept. 6 in Ligonier, Pa. Celtic Eagle, which was formed three years ago after a few of its members attended the Ohio Scottish Arts School in Oberlin, features many former members of the Akron and District Pipe Band.

“We didn’t have any other bands in the area, and we didn’t want to drive far.” Wiley said. “So we thought, ‘Let’s form our own band.’ We play a march competition set, which is like traditional music. Most people probably wouldn’t know it.”

Wiley said while the average person knows what a bagpipe is, the actual use of the instrument remains somewhat mysterious. “We only have nine notes and no sharps and no flats,” Wiley said. “So we’re kind of limited. Like we’ll have people ask us to play a graduation party and want us to perform The Ohio State University fight song. Well, I don’t have enough notes. So there’s not too many contemporary things we can do. That’s a big misconception.”

While Celtic Eagle has been booked to play everything from the opening of new fire stations to military functions, church events, graduation parties and weddings, it’s the competitions that Wiley enjoys the most.

She’s hoping in the future the group will move up into more difficult divisions.

“I just have an enjoyment of playing the instrument and being around the other people in the band,” Wiley said. “It’s sort of like an extended family. We spend a lot of time together and my kids really enjoy it too, learning the Scottish heritage and meeting people from all over the world.”

For more information, visit www.celticeaglepb.com.

Benson may be reached at ididhear@aol.com.