“In the circle we are all equal. When in the circle, no one is in front of you. No one is behind you. No one is above you. No one is below you. The sacred circle is designed to create unity.”
— Dave Chief, Oglala Lakota
In the world of pipe bands, the concept of the circle is both literal and symbolic.
We gather in a circle to tune. We circle up before we step into competition. We form a circle before a performance, before a funeral, before a moment that matters. The circle is where sound becomes synchronized, where nerves get calmed, where a collective breath is taken. It’s not just a shape—it’s a mindset.
There is no hierarchy in a circle. No ranks, no egos, no titles. Just people—pipers, drummers, leaders, learners—standing shoulder to shoulder. In that space, each member is as vital as the next. Everyone contributes. Everyone listens. Everyone matters.
At Wake and District, this philosophy runs deep. We don’t stand behind one another—we stand with one another. We push each other to be better musicians, better teammates, and better humans. We honor tradition, but we also embrace the present, recognizing that unity is not something we find—it’s something we create.
The music we make together is only possible when we move in rhythm, in time, and in purpose. And it all begins—in the circle.
Let’s stay grounded in that unity, on and off the field.
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