The Saffron Kilts Pipe Band (Now the Saffron United Pipe Band) is one of the most well known bands in the eastern United States. Based in Babylon, New York the band was originally formed in 1962 by a small group of enthusiast within the AOH Div# 2 in Babylon. This also makes the band one of the oldest in the Tri-State area. The Bands first Pipe Major, Matt Close was very focused on providing an atmosphere to cultivate and challenge younger players. This he figured was our future, a future that has guided the band to excel at every level of competition and performance. As winners of numerous championships and awards, the band is the most consistent winner in the competitive arena. The Band also holds the record for winning the prestigious Fr. O’Callaghan award 14 times as the best pipe Band in the NY City St. Patrick’s Day parade. Our goal is to continue to raise our level of expectation with regard to sound, music, execution and appearance.
After Matt Close's death in 1984 the band has been under the leadership of Pipe Major Michael Faughnan Jr. Through the many hands that are needed to organize a band our size the SUPB has been organized into different levels of proficiency to offer something for everyone. Presently, we field grade 2, 4, 5 bands as well as a non-competitive roster. While we compete separately we maintain unison as one band in our other performances. The band also has an active program of instruction for beginners. See our Online registration form.
The band has continued to have one of the most organized "Off season" programs to cultivate our players. We have taken a leadership role in the piping community by exposing the "Best of the Best" to our students and the general public. Through the medium of seminars, recitals and concerts we have enlisted World Champion caliber performers to come to Long Island and work with us. People like Terry Tully from Dublin, Jack Lee, Terry Lee, Scott McAulay, Bob Worrall, Ken Eller, and Jim McGillvray all from Canada, Bob Shepherd, Robert Mathieson, Jim Kilpatrick, Roddy McLeod and Stewart Robertson from Scotland to come help put their stamp on our development. Individually many players on our roster are responsible for teaching many bands and individuals in the area.
Aside from successfully competing on an active basis on the North American, Canadian, Scottish and Irish circuits the SUPB also perform at a number of different engagements throughout the year. A few include: appearances at the White House, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square garden, Shea Stadium, as well as performances with many professional musicians. A few of which include, The Clancy Brothers, The Wolfetones, The Chieftains, Cherish the Ladies and Frank Patterson. We have represented the United States at the World Championships in Glasgow Scotland as well as competed at the All Ireland Pipe Band Championships.
The SUPB also has very strong ties to Iona College in New Rochelle. Iona College features a Pipe Band and offers scholarships to qualified pipers and drummers. We have had at least 25 people through out the years that have attended Iona. This includes one of our original drummers, Charlie McLoughlin who is still active in the band today. Six of these people have served as Pipe Major at one time or another, 3 have been pipe sergeant, and 3 have been drum sergeant.
This 2000 we won the Father O'Callaghan trophy as the best overall pipe band in the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade. This is a nice way to start off the millennium. It also made it the 14th time out of the 20 years that this award has been issued that we have been presented this trophy. It also marked the last time that the band will march in the Saffron Kilt.
After much discussion, in 2001 the band decided to get a new look. As of the 2001 season we adopted the Irish National Millennium Tartan for our new uniform and our name evolved to The Saffron United Pipe Band. We feel that we are not turning our back on tradition as much as we are continuing to grow. It was very expensive to uniform a band of our size and this move is both an economical move as well as a move to create a more uniform look through out our ranks. The solid color was a very tough kilt to keep looking clean and fading during use as well as when ordering made it impossible to do well in dress and deportment. We are very excited by this move and hope that you all are too.
In 2008 Pipe Major Michael Faughnan stepped down to keep up with his family's and continue to play a roll as Piper, Instructor and organizer for the Band. Eric Stein was appointed as only the band third Pipe Major.
Eric himself joined the bands student program in 1966 when he received his first chanter lesson from Pipe Major Matthew Close. He served as Pipe Sergeant of the band under Matt and Michael Faughnan and played in the band’s first competitions and was involved in the creation of the band’s competition unit. Eric married his wife of many years Maureen whom was and is still an active piper in the band. As a result of some fantastic tuition provided by the band and outside instruction Eric managed to win many titles with Saffron in Grades 4, 3, and 2. In 1987 he was invited to play with the Grade 1 Parlin and District Pipe Band where he was fortunate to win the United States Championship at the Colonial Games in Maryland. At this time he was living in New Jersey and still played with Saffron in parades. In addition Maureen and Eric taught a street band in New Jersey (the Trinity Pipe Band) and led them to their first competitions and prizes. In 1999, due to a work promotion, Maureen and Eric moved to Atlanta and while they still did the occasional parade with Saffron they were too far away to compete with the band. they both did, however, play and compete with the very successful Grade 3 Atlanta Pipe Band where he also served on the band’s Board of Directors.
In 2003 the band was very lucky that Maureen and Eric moved back to Long Island to be with their family and of course resume a very active role in the band. Eric has been very active in the EUSPBA and is a very strong organizer of Piping related activities.
The SUPB is a non-profit organization and as such rely heavily on corporate sponsorship and private donations to facilitate our program.
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One of the most well known bands in the eastern USA. Based in Babylon, New York.
