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Welcome to the Band's First Bagpiper in Four Decades

  • Published
  • By Technical Sgt. Brandon Chaney
Washington D.C. --  During the month of June, The United States Air Force Band reconnected with its glorious past by welcoming Technical Sgt. Adam Tianello, the first bagpiper to join the Band in over four decades. Despite this passing of time without a piper amongst its ranks, historically the Band has had a rich history of pipers.

When The U.S. Air Force Drum and Bugle Corps was brought into the Band organization in 1950, it was titled "The U.S. Air Force Drum & Bugle Corps & Pipe Band" and contained a small contingent of pipers. By the 1960s, they became so popular that the U.S. Air Force Pipe Band was formally introduced as a separate performing unit of the Band.

When the Drum & Bugle Corps was de-activated in 1964, the Pipe Band remained and contributed mightily to the Band's reputation as "America's International Musical Ambassadors" until it too was eliminated in 1971 due to budgetary considerations.

On June 10, 2013, Tianello signed in to begin his tenure with The United States Air Force Band after performing with the U.S. Air Force Reserve Pipe Band and Concert Band in Warner Robbins, Ga. for nearly three years.

A native of Rochester, N.Y., Tianello graduated from Spencerport High School in 2001. He then continued his musical studies at the State University of New York at Geneseo, where he earned a Bachelor's of Arts in music along with minors in business and political science. He then graduated from Argosy University in Tampa, Fla. with a Masters in Business Administration. Prior to enlisting in the Air Force, Tianello performed in the Feadan Or Pipe Band. He is a grade 3 piper and has performed numerous solo piping gigs around the world.

Tianello is keenly aware of his place in the Band's history and stated, "Many of the original USAF Pipe Band members have been my mentors throughout my entire musical life. To follow in the footsteps of those giants is intimidating, but I'm up to the challenge!"

Tianello looks forward to performing with The United States Air Force Ceremonial Brass and starting his new life in the Washington, D.C. area with his family.