![]() In 1989 Donald MacPhee took over as pipe major and almost overnight turned us from a street band to Grade III champions at the 1990 Stone Mountain Highland Games in Atlanta, Georgia. ![]() Thomas in 1989 I started college at the University of Houston and joined the Hamilton Pipe Band led by Lars Sloan. His leadership soon built the band into the premiere juvenile pipe band in the world.Īfter graduating from St. Cusack took over at the beginning of 7th Grade. However, Doug Frobese, who was a senior that year, ran the band until Mike Cusack graduated from college. Thomas, leaving the band without a director during that year. It was during this year that I made the transition from practice chanter to bagpipe and started marching with the band. Thomas to move to California and Albert McMullin took over as band director. When I started 5th Grade in 1982 Campbell Naismith left St. While the senior was putting my name on the band list I remember asking him, “By the way, what is a bagpipe?” About the third week of school one of the seniors walked into my classroom and asked who was interested in joining the band and learning the bagpipe. Thomas’ Episcopal School in Houston, Texas. My piping journey began in 1981 when I enrolled in 4th Grade at St. He has guided the band through 10 CDs and 2 DVDs, received two Asca-Plus awards from ASCAP for music written for the band and enjoys freelance symphonic-style performance when The Rogues schedule allows. In 1994 Randy founded "The Scottish Rogues", later to become "The Rogues", and is the only person to be a part of every Rogues line-up since the beginning. In 1993 they competed at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland and won best overseas band in the grade II competition, a first for an US band, and then won first place in the grade III competition in 1998, also a first for the United States. Competing successfully in high school and graduating with a degree in music education/percussion from the University of Houston in 1985, he then taught band in the public schools in Texas for two years and almost completed a masters in conducting.īeginning in college Randy picked up Scottish drumming as a hobby, joined a pipe band and eventually joined the Hamilton Pipe Band founded by Lars Sloan. Begging his parents for one more chance at age 10, he began percussion in the public schools in Houston, TX and never looked back. That lasted several years, but finally the instrument that won out was the drums. Having mastered that attempt by performing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star in front of the entire Cub Scout pack, he soon got bored and moved on to the piano. Randy’s course in life was set when at age 6 he began violin lessons. That Tartan is the background for the website! Randy Wothke - Founder, Percussionist, Manager The band even has it's own tartan in the Scottish Register of Tartans. The Rogues have a tradition of supporting charities, sometimes holding their own fundraisers supporting individuals and causes for soldiers. The Rogues have produced 11 albums and 2 DVDs to date and are listed in the official Grammy book for several nominations, though falling short of the final 5. Members of the band have competed all over North America and Scotland, and won 1st place at the 1998 World Pipe Band Championships in Grade III, performing with the Hamilton Pipe Band out of Houston, TX. Usually performing with 2 pipers and 2 percussionists, our roster includes 12 top notch players from around the country. The Rogues have performed in Las Vegas, Scotland, Greece, Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Canada, several cruises and all over the United States. They also won 1st place in the original Strangford-Lough Celtic Battle of the Bands. The band has produced it's own theater show called Celtic Crossroads, performed as a guest artist with the Air Force Symphony Orchestra in Washington, DC and had music featured in the 2011 film "Kill the Irishman.". Starting at the Texas Renaissance Festival in 1994, the band soon began performing out of state and added Scottish Highland Games and Celtic festivals and corporate shows. From Scottish Highland games to performing with a symphony orchestra, The Rogues deliver a commanding performance. Founded in Houston in 1994, The Rogues created a new genre of Celtic music with exceptionally well-played pipes and driving percussion and have become award-winning international artists. ![]() Houston's Often Imitated but Never Duplicated AWARD WINNING Celtic Band.
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