Richard Nikolic (right) marches down 5th Avenue in St. Patrick’s Day parade BEN ASEN/COURTESY
Andrew Mannion Senior Writer
Manhattan University’s (MU) Pipes and Drums has a productive schedule ahead, as they gear up for another semester of Irish festivities. After participating in nine parades last March, the group has already begun practicing for this upcoming season of St. Patrick’s Day events.
The group annually participates in several parades, ranging from Mineola to Pearl River, sticking to the tri-state area. With the preparation of the constant parades starting in March, the band makes a point to hone their skills these first weeks of the semester. Pipe Major, Richard Nikolic, spoke on the bands schedule and how practices tend to ramp up this time of year.
“We follow the schedule of the college,” Nikolic said. “So once school starts again, we will practice throughout the semester. Now, when the spring comes, we just try to meet every Thursday to get together. We play, we play longer, we countermarch. We just try to get ourselves going.”
The club is mainly composed of alumni and veteran band members. This has given the band consistency throughout the years. Colleen Corrigan, a piper in the band, spoke about how the band has stayed consistent while growing over the years.
“It is mainly the same people over the years,” Corrigan said. “However, we add on to it with new students that join the band, and then they hang on, and they graduate, and they still come back with the band.”
The band’s recruitment is usually internal, with people hearing about it from others who are already in the band. That is how a new member of the band, Niko Mayhew, was recruited. He spoke about how his friend encouraged him to check out the band.
“My friend recruited me to join,” Mayhew said. “He always said how much fun it is and that I should just come to one practice to see how it is. I went, and I thought it was cool. It wasn’t what you would expect out of Pipes and Drums.”
Mayhew has found the experience quite rewarding in his few weeks as a member. He continued on how the band has felt supportive and cultivating towards making him into a better band member.
“The people here really want to see you succeed and be a part of this band,” Mayhew said. “Every single practice we have, they teach you really well and make sure you’re enjoying it. Learning the new instrument is something I enjoy.”
The parades are the main events they prepare for. So with eight parades coming up this year, the band has been using Thursday nights to get the craft down for the marches around the corner. Nikolic spoke on his favorite events with the band, and the payoff of his practicing and years in the band.
“Fifth Avenue is just tremendous,” Nikolic said. “When you turn that corner on 45th Street, and you’re marching down the avenue, it’s breathtaking. Being with your bandmates and going to all the parades is a good time. We get together, and then we, you know, go get a bite to eat after.”