News Flashes

Contact us:  QHPD, P.O.B. 541 Monson, MA 01057
 413-205-8335

It’s time to have a Ball!

Quaboag Highlanders, during their first year created an award to recognize pipers and drummers who give back to their community through their musical skills and talents. This award is presented each year at our annual Celtic Ball in February. It is our way of saying ‘thank you’ on behalf of the piping community. It is also our hope that this will inspire other pipers and drummers to contribute their respective musical talents to their own communities.

The award is named in honor of its first recipient Edward Timothy Casey. The award recognized Ed for his many years of selfless dedication to those less fortunate and in need of help. In all his years of piping Ed never took one penny for any performance. Instead he required that all monies that might be given him, be sent directly to the Springfield Open Pantry, a shelter that serves meals to homeless and indigent people.

The Springfield Open Pantry estimates that over the years, the total money provided from Ed Casey’s efforts was in the ten of thousands of dollars. Yet his dedication didn’t end there. Throughout his association with the Open Pantry, Ed Casey volunteered Thursday evenings each week to help cook and serve food in the shelter. There, Ed’s co-volunteers and patrons knew him affectionately as “Reverend Ed”.

There is a committee within our band, whose sole job, each year, is to seek out candidates for this award so they may be recognized for their selfless acts of kindness. Simply stated do you know of a piper or drummer, perhaps someone in your own ranks, whom you feel gives back to the community through his or her musical talent; and more importantly, would you like to nominate this person for this award ?

Nomination Form

If you have any questions or require additional information please contact us by filling out our Information Request Form on the bottom of our main page.

Piper Edward Timothy Casey