Hometown: San Francisco, California
Founded: 1932
Tartan: County Wexford
Website: http://ipbsf.org/
The Irish Pipers Band of San Francisco was formed in 1932 and is the oldest continuously active Irish Pipe Band west of the Mississippi River. This year marks their 92nd anniversary. Original members of the band were Irish immigrants who desired to maintain the piping traditions of their native land. The band was a charter member of the Pacific Coast Pipe Band Association.
The band played at the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge and at the groundbreaking ceremony for the United Irish Cultural Center. The pipers played at the charter meeting for the founding of the United Nations. They have also performed on national television with Gene Kelly and on stage with the Grammy award winning Chieftains. The band has traditionally participated in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade as well as the raising of the Irish flag at City Hall. They have competed in bagpipe competitions in Long Beach, Pleasanton, Campbell, Woodland, Monterey, Costa Mesa, Portland and Ireland. The Irish Pipers Band has been the guest band at the Peace Officer’s Memorial service in Sacramento and they are the past Western United States Pipe Band Champions.
The band is led by Pipe Major Mike Alex Lentz and Drum Sergeant Andrew Ryan.
The band wears the County Wexford tartan. The Irish Pipers Band practices on Monday evenings at the United Irish Cultural Center in San Francisco located at 2700 45th Avenue near Sloat Blvd. Students of all ages are welcome for free piping and drumming lessons. The web site is http://www.ipbsf.org
The band will be hosting the WUSPBA sanctioned Golden Gate Games for solo competition on July 27th at the Irish Cultural Center.
Information as of April 7, 2024
Grade: 4
Pipe Major: Alex Lentz
Pipe Sergeant: Hal Wilkes
Drum Sergeant: Andrew Ryan
Drum Major: Andrew Campbell
March, Strathspey, Reel (MSR) 2025
TBA
Time Limit Medley (TLM) 2025
TBA
Information as of December 20, 2024
Grade: 5
Pipe Major: Dean McFarren
Pipe Sergeant: Craig Farley
Drum Sergeant: Stuart McLean
Drum Major: Ben O’Leary
March, Slow March, March (MSM) 2025
TBA
Quick March Medley (QMM) 25025
TBA
Information as of December 20, 2024
WUSPBA Northern Branch 