“I understand the inventor of the bagpipes was inspired when he saw a man carrying an indignant, asthmatic pig under his arm. Unfortunately, the man-made sound never equalled the purity of the sound achieved by the pig.”—Alfred Hitchcock

Andrew Byler and his pipes. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)

In these days of indie, reggae, rock, and rap music, it takes an unusual person to embrace the bagpipe as his instrument of choice. Bromfield senior Andrew Byler is such a person. Byler is an experienced bagpipe player who has performed all over the state. In a recent interview, Byler recounted the highlights of his piping career since he first took up the instrument five years ago.

“My music teacher in sixth grade thought I had a knack for music and suggested that I take up an instrument,” he explained. “My mom suggested the bagpipes and we found Doug Moffat, who lives in Stow, to give me lessons every week for about a year.” After that first year, Byler started taking lessons from the pipe major of the Stuart Highland Pipe Band. The Stuart Highlanders is a premier pipe organization formed in 1965 in Wilmington, which operates in the eastern United States and Canada. They have won many awards at major piping competitions, winning several division contests. The group also placed second at a competition at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire, and participated at the southern U.S. Pipe Band Championships in Georgia.

Eventually, Byler earned the title of pipe major of the organization. Sean Hannaway, band manager for the Stuart Highlanders, explained, “A pipe major is like a combination conductor and band leader. To be a pipe major, you have to be a good piper and a good leader. In Andrew’s case, he is just a very good and consistent piper. He’s a perfect choice to lead a band with a mix of new and more experienced pipers.”

The Highlanders are organized into grade III and grade IV groups, with grade III being the original group founded in 1965, and grade IV the one formed two years ago for beginning players. Byler leads the grade IV band in competitions and plays in the grade III band as well.

There are many opportunities to play his bagpipes, Byler said. “My band [the Highlanders] does a concert every March, so I’ve played in four of those.” But the most interesting job he has had so far, he said, was leading the Framingham girls hockey team out onto the ice while playing—and skating.

Byler started teaching last February, and has been giving one student weekly half-hour lessons. “It’s fun to see a student progress every week,” Byler said. “I pick out exercises and songs before the lessons to teach. During a lesson we go over exercises and learn a new tune every few weeks.”

In addition to school and other activities, Byler has been able to maintain his talent at the pipes. He has many accomplishments on his résumé and is well-known within the Bromfield and Harvard community, having played at local weddings, funerals, sports games and championships, and, most recently, the opening of the new town library. Bromfield senior Eliza Ives always enjoys hearing Byler play, she said. “It’s a unique hobby, and it’s always fun to hear him play.”