Chicago Highlanders Pipe Band

Chicago Highlanders, a Grade 5 pipe band based in Palatine, IL.

Granted permission by Queen Elizabeth II to wear the Royal Stewart Tartan. Currently competes as a Grade 4 band.

The Chicago Highlanders have a long and distinguished history. One of the first 33 bands formed in the United States; the Chicago Highlanders first played in the 1880’s and began again in 1921 and are now one of the oldest continuous established bagpipe bands in the United States.

The band was formed by brothers Robert and James Sim, both World War I veterans from the Scottish Regiments. Jim Sim was a drummer and Bob was the band’s first Pipe Major. The band was invited to play at numerous events throughout Chicago including the 1933 World’s Fair.

In 1959, Queen Elizabeth II came to Chicago when the St. Lawrence river was opened to ocean traffic and all major cities on the Great Lakes became ocean ports. The Queen arrived on the Royal Yacht Britannia. The Chicago Highlanders were invited to play for the Queen at Navy Pier. Seated next to Queen Elizabeth is the late Mayor Richard J. Daley.

The Highlanders traveled as a group to Scotland in 2000, when they marched in the 10,000 Piper Millennium Parade in Edinburgh, and competed at the World’s at Glasgow Green.

The Pipes and Drums of the Chicago Highlanders were established in 1921 and are one of the oldest pipe and drum corps in the United States. The band consists of pipers, drummers, and students of various ages and walks of professional life and is a member of the Midwest Pipe Band Association where some members compete solo and with the band at local Highland Games.

The Chicago Highlanders strive to maintain the rich traditions of Scottish piping and drumming and are led in parades by Drum Major Oz Morales. The band meets every Thursday at The Presbyterian Church of Palatine from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM, with the first half hour dedicated to student instruction. In the tradition of pipe bands across the world, and to pass on the craft to future generations, bagpipe and drum lessons are free to all interested and conscientious persons, regardless of age or skill level, who aspire to join the band. The rest of the time is dedicated to band practice, either in individual groups or as a single unit.