History
The band was founded in 1963 by Pipe Major Thomas WD Livingstone, Sr. (pictured on the left) with one piper and three students under the name The Peoria Pipe Band. Tommy, who had come from Dunblane, Scotland in his early twenties, started piping at age eight and continued playing until his death at age 87. Mr. Livingstone has been referred to as "the father of piping in Central Illinois."
The original members practiced at the American Legion Post #2 facility on Monroe Street near Spalding High School in Peoria, Illinois. Pictured in the front row to the right is Pipe Major Phil Eskew (left), Tommy Livingstone, Jr. (center), and Tommy Livingstone, Sr. (right).
The band was for several years based in Morton, Illinois during which time it was known as The Morton Highlanders and wore the Royal Stewart tartan (shown on left). Continued growth of the band and a need for more room prompted a move in 1994 to St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Peoria.
Soon after the move, the band changed its name to Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums and changed its tartan to Flower of Scotland (shown on right). We now have members from all around Central Illinois and rehearse in Eureka, Il more centrally located to everyone. We currently rehearse at the Eureka Christian Church from 6:30-8:30 on Thursday evenings. Visitors and prospective students are always welcome!
Pipe Majors Through the Years
The band has been led by some fantastic pipe majors over the years. Here is a comprehensive list of each one and when they stepped into that role:
Tommy Livingston 1963
Phil Eskew - unknown
Wilbur Hoover - unknown
Donald Legge - 1980s
Dr. Craig Aune - 1992
Dr. Paul Siebert - 1997
Patrick Martin - 2004
Erik Thronson - 2005
Willie Muirhead - 2006
John Blickenstaff - 2007
Kevin Nickerson - 2009
Ted Kerrn - 2010
Josh Steffen - 2015
Denny Dahm - 2018
Luke Stremlau - 2019
Scott Whitman - 2021
Missing Ms. Sandy
This tune was written about a dear friend and bandmate of mine, Sandy V Seehusen. Sandy was a long-
time piper with Celtic Cross as well as North Texas Caldedonian. She had a strong joyful spirit and an
iron will. In her early 30’s she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She fought it and it went into
remission but came back a couple of years later. She fought it hard but it overcame her and she died in
2000 at the age of 36.
A couple of days after she passed I left for British Columbia, Canada to attend the summer school of SFU.
I didn’t really feel like going as the loss was too close and I would miss the funeral. I went because I
know Sandy would have wanted me to go.
In the camp SFU has a tune writing contest. I wrote this tune for Sandy. It won first place out of 96
tunes. One of their pipers played it at a special concert.
I am proud to play Sandy’s Henderson drones now.
-Kevin Nickerson