Peters Student Bagpiper to March in Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Parade

sophomore Liam O'Toole has a passion for playing the bagpipes—it’s in his blood, you could say.

He said he plays for profession and hobby, and hopes to earn a full scholarship to Carnegie Mellon University. 

On Thursday, he performed a handful of tunes for patrons—a sound heard louder than typical at a library, and beautiful at that.

Studiers on the second floor peered over the balcony to listen, and a group filled the tables to the left of the lobby.

Between songs, O'Toole explained his attire—noting his multi-color kilt of the O'Toole clan, and his leather and fur Sporran, a pouch that performs the same function as pockets on a pocketless kilt.

O'Toole said he's been playing for three to four years. His said his dad plays for enjoyment and passed down the love to O'Toole, who said he wants to make a career of it.

His teacher, Nick Hudson, is a graduate of CMU and the nation's only graduated bagpipe major.

"He's ranked the No. 1 bagpiper in the country," O'Toole said. 

Tomorrow, O'Toole will make his debut marching in the Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day parade, a position for which he had to audition.

He played "The Green Hills of Tyrol," "Wearing of the Green," "Boys of Wexford," and "Ministry Boy"—among others. He said "Ministry Boy" was the song played at the Sept. 11 memorial. 

O'Toole explained that the bagpipes symbolize a march of soldiers to fight another day. He said there are a lot of opportunities with playing the bagpipes, such as weddings, funerals and competitions. 

Prior to playing, he learned the fiddle. He's also a swimmer at the high school, which he said definitely helps with breath control while playing the bagpipes.

O'Toole practices for about an hour a day and hopes to buy his own set of bagpipes soon. He said they range from $1,200 to $4,200. 

So what's next on his playing to-do list? 

"Amazing Grace."