Band History

The Heart of Georgia Pipes & Drums, Inc is located in Warner Robins, GA, 16 miles south of Macon. The all-volunteer pipe band was originally created in June of 1995 as the Centerville Volunteer Fire Department Highland Bagpipe and Drum Band by some local citizens and members of the Centerville Fire Department. It was the first fire department pipe band in the state of Georgia. The band members changed the name in December of 2004 and it continues now to function as a group of dedicated musicians who love Scottish and Irish music. The membership of 15 pipers and drummers of all ages perform all over the state of Georgia, including memorials, parades, Scottish games, festivals and private functions such as weddings, parties and funerals. Members have played at the Georgia State Capitol for Firefighter Appreciation Day and at the South Carolina Firefighter Association Convention in Myrtle Beach.

The band proudly wears the Black Watch regimental tartan along with other modern pipe band garb. The members chose the Black Watch tartan because this famous military unit was present at Fort Fredrica on St. Simons Island, GA in 1742. They helped Oglethorpe defeat the Spanish at Bloody Marsh when they tried to invade Georgia to make it a colony of Spain. By wearing this unit’s tartan, the band reflects on the history of the Scots in Georgia.

We were often asked why bagpipes are associated with the police and fire departments. It is a very interesting story. To read about the tradition go to the Bagpipes and Fire Departments page of the Orange County Fire Authority Pipes and Drums.

Since competition is a very good tool to help a band improve its performance the band started competing in Grade V competitions at some of the Scottish games in the southeastern United States in April of 2000. We did well in our first year of competition, taking first place in our very first event at the Culloden (GA) Highland Games. As a result of the band members' hard work and competition record, the band was upgraded by the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association to Grade IV at the end of the 2003 season and a new Grade 5 unit was formed within the organization. However, changes in membership forced the band to return to Grade 5 in the 2005 season.

If you are interested in hiring the band or a solo piper, please contact our Business Manger, who is listed on the Hire Us page.