IONA COLLEGE PIPERS WIN AWARD AT THE 2011 WORLD PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

One Student Piper Wins Individual Performance Award

New Rochelle, NY (August 2011) - Five students who are current members of the Iona College Pipe Band, along with several former players, recently won an award at the 2011 World Pipe Band Championships. The players, who perform regularly as members of the New York Metro Pipe Band, won in the Grade 3B category. In addition, one of the student pipers, Brendan Gomez , won an individual performance category award. The international competition was held in Glasgow, Scotland on August 13, where 8,000 pipers and drummers from 16 nations performed.

The Iona contingent consisted of:

Current Students

• Brendan Gomez of Port Chester, NY, senior
• Sean Poyntz of Miami, FL, sophomore
• Kevin Dooley of Franklin, NY, junior
• Shannon Vandette of West Islip, NY, junior
• Kelly Vandette of West Islip, NY, sophomore

Alumni

• Brendan O'Rourke (Class of '96)
• Mike O'Rourke (Class of '05)
• Michael L. Mahoney (Class of '05)
• Michael Faughnan (Class of '83)
• Andrew McCarrick (Class of '08)
• Kevin McSwiggan (Class of '04)
• Ryan Gill (Class of '06)
• Dan McCarthy (Class of '04)
• Kevin O'Neill (Class of '06)
• Kristen Armstrong (Class of '10)
• Brian McGuire (Class of '01, '03MBA)

They were among 20 members of the New York Metro Pipe Band who played in the victory performance. The New York Metro Pipe Band was one of 12 bands in its category judged to be first in piping, drumming and ensemble playing. The international competition, ranked as the biggest day on the international pipe band calendar, attracted more than 8,000 pipers and drummers and approximately 40,000 spectators.

Iona College pipers comprise the single largest membership in the New York Metro Band, formed 18 months ago. Of the band’s 57 members, nearly 20 are current or former Iona pipe band members.

Iona President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. said: "The students and alumni pipers who helped capture this honor on the international stage are to be congratulated for their achievement. It underscores the reputation of the Iona College Pipe Band which is an iconic and defining characteristic of our college."

The Iona Pipe Band currently has 40 talented musicians who participate at many on-campus events such as the Homecoming and Maroon Madness in addition to playing for other clubs and organizations. The Iona Pipe Band also participates in many parades around the St. Patrick's Day season at off-campus locations.

For more information, visit NY Metro Pipe Band or watch the video.

Founded in 1940, Iona College is a four-year private, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers and American Catholic higher education. It is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona offers undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science, and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs.

 

For questions or more information please contact:
Dawn Insanalli
Public Relations Office
Iona College, 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, N.Y. 10801
Office: (914) 637-2726
Fax: (914) 637-2711
dinsanalli@iona.edu