The Pipes and Drums of Scotland to Set a Misty Mood at Music-in-the-Park on Sunday

The popularity of the Music-in-the-Park concert series grows each week. Last Sunday, when the group Smooth performed during the sixth offering of the summer season, the park was curb-to-curb people, several of whom danced to the Funk/Latin/Rock sounds.

This Sunday evening’s program promises to be different fare than usual. The heart and soul of Scotland will march into town with the Misty Isle Pipe Band. The performance will begin at 6 p.m. with the last gasp of a bagpipe scheduled at 8 p.m.

Under the direction of Tom Reoch, who was born in Scotland and founded the band in 1999, this world-class group will be the first Scottish band to perform in Memorial Park. Jen Amato-Reoch, Tom’s wife, is a drummer in the band. She was raised in LCF and graduated from Flintridge Prep in 1993.

“I’m thrilled to be coming back to my home town to perform with my Misty Isle band members,” said Amato-Reoch. “This is going to be great fun for me.”

She first saw Misty Isle compete at the Queen Mary Highland Games in February 1999 where she discovered that “girls can do that!”

She first began taking piping lessons from Pipe Major Tom Reoch. Because the bagpipe is such a demanding instrument to play and she was juggling the demands of a tough school schedule, she put her piping lessons on hold and switched her focus to learning the tenor drum. Within a couple of years she joined the Misty Isle Pipe Band as a drummer. She is also webmaster for the band’s Web site.

This award-winning pipe band wears the Flower of Scotland tartan, Scotland’s national tartan. All band members, no matter what nationality they are, embrace the traditions, culture and music of Scotland. They have traveled not only in this nation, but have also competed in Scotland. On Aug. 3, the band will once again enter the world competition in Glasgow, Scotland where they will be challenged by 250 other pipe and drum bands.

On tap for Sunday’s concert will be such highland favorites as “Amazing Grace,” and “Scotland the Brave.” John Allan, a piper who is also a fine vocalist and guitarist, will entertain the crowd with a selection of Scottish songs.

According to Amato-Reoch, Misty Isle welcomes a diverse group of “lads” and lassies,” from teenagers to seniors, students to professionals in the band. She said the most senior piper they have is about 77 years old; the eldest drummer is in her 60s. The youngest piper is 13 and the junior drummer is 11. In order to keep the culture and music of Scotland alive, members of the band offer instruction on both bagpipes and drums.

Music-in-the-Park is cosponsored by the city and

the La Cañada Valley Sun.