Carnegie Mellon starts formal search for program director

Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University has started a formal search to fill its Director of Piping position, which has been vacant since last fall following the departure of renowned piper, Alasdair Gillies, who had held the post for more than a decade.

The university describes the ideal candidate for the full-time position as “an acclaimed piper with demonstrated leadership skills and significant experience preparing a band for competitions. The director must also be an experienced and enthusiastic teacher at both the beginning and advanced levels, having a genuine interest in the academic progress and development of band members.”

Carnegie Mellon is purportedly the only institution to offer a university-level major in piping. The Director of Piping is responsible for establishing course curriculum and, depending on the candidate’s skills and accomplishments, “may allow for the potential of adjunct teaching in the School of Music. . . The director guides, develops, and teaches band members with goals of cultivating a competitive pipe band, promoting the bagpipe major, and representing and supporting the university and its traditions.”

Pittsburgh-based piper Jimmy McIntosh has reportedly filled in to keep the program moving ahead.

The university has said that review of candidates will begin “immediately,” with priority consideration will be given for applications received by February 26, 2010.

The Carnegie Mellon University Pipes & Drums started competing in 1999,  soon after Gillies came on board in 1988, and has competed in Grade 3.

Carnegie Mellon University has more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students and 4,000 faculty and staff.