LAKEVILLE — Old Colony Highlanders Pipe Band will host its annual open house at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at 7:30 pm at the Lakeville United Church of Christ, 1 Precinct St., Lakeville.

The band will perform and band members will be available afterward to meet with the public. 

Old Colony Highlanders is recruiting drummers. Experience in any type of drumming is a plus, but not necessary, as the band provides lessons with the top bagpipers and drummers in the region. 

Lessons are available in bagpiping, and snare, tenor, or bass drum. Drummers are provided with drums at no cost to the individual while they play with the band. On average, drum students are ready to play with the band within the first year. 

The band also offers classes in bagpiping. It can take somewhat longer for a bagpipe student to be ready to perform with the band. Those considering lessons are invited to try a few classes with no obligation to join the full program. 

Old Colony Highlanders is the region’s premier bagpipe band. In 2022 the band was recognized as the number one bagpipe band in their division in the eastern United States.

Old Colony Highlanders Pipe Band is a nonprofit organization that was founded in order to promote these Celtic arts in southeastern Massachusetts via teaching and performing the music of the bagpipe and drums. The band rehearses most Thursday evenings at the Lakeville United Church of Christ. The band is not affiliated with the church but is allowed to use the site.

The band performs in parades, concerts, as well as community and charity events throughout the region. OCH also fields a competition team that competes throughout the northeast. Old Colony Highlanders perform at local events such as parades, concerts, memorials, among many others. 

Anyone who cannot make the open house but wants to learn more about playing with the band or hiring the band should contact Pipe Major Diane Wood-Bielski at (508) 947-4383 or at oldcolonyhpb@comcast.net.