
Michael Collins Pipes & Drums, was founded on June 29, 1996 by several talented musicians from the Denver area with a love of Irish music, including Jay Leasure, Jim McQuiston, and David Bonham. The band chose its name to honor both Michael Collins, who is regarded as the father of the Irish Republic; as well as its primary patron, the Denver-based, Michael Collins Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. The band considers it a great honor to carry the name of Michael Collins.
The band's connection with Michael Collins and the AOH assures close ties with Colorado's Irish community and in turn, close ties with the tradition of playing Irish pipe music. The band's mission includes a promise to avoid political discord, discrimination, or exclusion of anyone on the basis of religion, political or social ideology, or ethnic heritage. With an objective of continuing to learn and play great Celtic music while entertaining the public, MCPB is about having fun.

MCPB was initially conceived as a small pub band, existing simply to have fun; however, as the band grew so did its reputation. In less than two years, the band grew to 30 musicians, elevated the small pub band into a competitive pipe & drum band that was awarded the Hibernians of the year award from the Michael Collins Division of the AOH and competed in their first Highland games.
From these humble beginnings, Michael Collins Pipes & Drums has gone on to win numerous medals at regional Highland Games as a Grade IV member of the Western United States Pipe Band Association; numerous first place showings at various regional parades; and many other honors, such as: leading the Denver St Patrick's Day Parade; playing with the Jefferson County Symphony in concert, hosting the Kansas City Irish Festival; opening Seven Nations.
Major Band Awards
2020
- Cancelled Official Pipe Band of the 58th Annual Denver St. Patrick's Parade!
- Cancelled - Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival
- Cancelled - Pikes Peak Celtic Festival
- Cancelled - Colorado United Irish Festival
- Cancelled - Colorado Scottish Festival and Rocky Mountain Highland Games
- Pending - MSR - Longs Peak Scottish Festival
- Pending - Timed Medley - Longs Peak Scottish Festival
- Official Pipe Band of the 57th Annual Denver St. Patrick's Parade!
- 3rd Place - MSR - Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival
- 3rd Place - Timed Medley - Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival
- 3rd Place - MSR - Pikes Peak Celtic Festival
- 2nd Place - Timed Medley - Pikes Peak Celtic Festival
- 2nd Place - MSR - Colorado United Irish Festival
- 1st Place - Timed Medley - Colorado United Irish Festival
- 1st Place - MSR - Colorado Scottish Festival and Rocky Mountain Highland Games
- 1st Place - Timed Medley - Colorado Scottish Festival and Rocky Mountain Highland Games
- 3rd Place - MSR - Longs Peak Scottish Festival
- 1st Place - Timed Medley - Longs Peak Scottish Festival
- Official Pipe Band of the 56th Annual Denver St. Patrick's Parade!
- 1st Place - Mini MSR - Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival
- 2nd Place - Mini MSR - Pikes Peak Celtic Festival
- 1st Place - Timed Medley - Pikes Peak Celtic Festival
- 3rd Place - Mini MSR - Colorado United Irish Festival
- 2nd Place - Timed Medley - Colorado United Irish Festival
- Parade Participant - Cheyenne Frontier Days Grand Parade
- 1st Place - Littleton Western Welcome Parade
- 2nd Place - Mini MSR - Colorado Scottish Festival and Rocky Mountain Highland Games
- 1st Place - Timed Medley - Colorado Scottish Festival and Rocky Mountain Highland Games
- 4th Place - Mini MSR - Longs Peak Scottish Festival
- 2nd Place - Timed Medley - Longs Peak Scottish Festival
- Official Pipe Band of the 55th Annual Denver St. Patrick's Parade!
- 1st Place - Mini MSR - Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival
- 2nd Place - Timed Medley - Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival
- 2nd Place - Mini MSR - Pikes Peak Celtic Festival
- 1st Place - Timed Medley - Pikes Peak Celtic Festival
- 1st Place - Mini MSR - Colorado United Irish Festival
- 1st Place - Timed Medley - Colorado United Irish Festival
- Parade Participant - Cheyenne Frontier Days Grand Parade
- 1st Place - Littleton Western Welcome Parade
- 2nd Place - Mini MSR - Longs Peak Scottish Festival
- 3rd Place - Timed Medley - Longs Peak Scottish Festival
- Official Pipe Band of the 54th Annual Denver St. Patrick's Parade!
- 1st Place - Mini MSR - Pikes Peak Celtic Festival
- 2nd Place - Timed Medley - Pikes Peak Celtic Festival
- 2nd Place - Mini MSR - Colorado United Irish Festival
- 2nd Place - Timed Medley - Colorado United Irish Festival
- Parade Participant - Cheyenne Frontier Days Grand Parade
- 2nd Place - Mini MSR - Longs Peak Scottish Festival
- 2nd Place - Timed Medley - Longs Peak Scottish Festival
- Official Pipe Band of the 53rd Annual Denver St. Patrick's Parade!
- 1st Place - Quick March Medley - Pikes Peak Celtic Festival
- 1st Place - Timed Medley - Pikes Peak Celtic Festival
- 1st Place - Quick March Medley - Colorado United Irish Festival
- 1st Place - Timed Medley - Colorado United Irish Festival
- Parade Participant - Cheyenne Frontier Days Grand Parade
- 1st Place - Littleton Western Welcome Parade
- 1st Place - Quick March Medley - Longs Peak Scottish Festival
- 2nd Place - Timed Medley - Longs Peak Scottish Festival
- Official Pipe Band of the 52nd Annual Denver St. Patrick's Parade!
- 2nd Place - Quick March Medley - Pikes Peak Celtic Festival
- 2nd Place - Timed Medley - Pikes Peak Celtic Festival
- 2nd Place - Quick March Medley - Colorado United Irish Festival
- 2nd Place - Timed Medley - Colorado United Irish Festival
- Parade Participant - Cheyenne Frontier Days Grand Parade
- 2nd Place - Quick March Medley - Colorado Scottish Festival
- 2nd Place - Timed Medley - Colorado Scottish Festival
- 1st Place - Littleton Western Welcome Parade
- 3rd Place - Quick March Medley - Longs Peak Scottish Festival
- 3rd Place - Timed Medley - Longs Peak Scottish Festival
- Official Pipe Band of the 51st Annual Denver St. Patrick's Parade!
- 2nd Place - Quick March Medley; Pikes Peak Celtic Festival
- 2nd Place - Quick March Medley; Colorado Irish Festival
- 2nd Place - Timed Medley; Colorado Irish Festival
- 2nd Place - Quick March Medley; Colorado Scottish Festival & Rocky Mountain Highland Games
- 2nd Place - Timed Medley; Colorado Scottish Festival & Rocky Mountain Highland Games
- 1st Place - Best Pipe Band Entry; Littleton Western Welcome Week Parade
- 4th Place - Quick March Medley; 36th Annual Long's Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival
- 2nd Place - Timed Medley; 36th Annual Long's Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival
- Official Pipe Band of the 50th Annual Denver St. Patrick's Parade!
- Participant in the Cheyenne Wyoming Frontier Days Parade
- 5th Place - Quick March Medley; Utah Scottish Festival & Highland Games
- 6th Place - Timed Medley; Utah Scottish Festival & Highland Games
- 3rd Place - Quick March Medley; Colorado Irish Festival
- 3rd Place - Timed Medley; Colorado Irish Festival
- 1st Place - Quick March Medley; Elizabeth Celtic Festival
- 1st Place - Timed Medley; Elizabeth Celtic Festival
- 3rd Place - Quick March Medley; Colorado Scottish Festival & Rocky Mountain Highland Games
- 1st Place - Drum Corp, Quick March Medley; Colorado Scottish Festival & Rocky Mountain Highland Games
- 3rd Place - Timed Medley; Colorado Scottish Festival & Rocky Mountain Highland Games
- 1st Place - Best Pipe Band Entry; Littleton Western Welcome Week Parade
- 4th Place - Quick March Medley; 35th Annual Long's Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival
- 3rd Place - Timed Medley; 35th Annual Long's Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival
- 1st Place - Best Pipe Band Entry; 49th Annual Denver St Patrick's Day Parade
- Participant in the Cheyenne Wyoming Frontier Days Parade
- 3rd Place - Quick March Medley; Colorado Irish Festival
- 2nd Place - Quick March Medley; Elizabeth Celtic Festival
- 3rd Place - Quick March Medley; Colorado Scottish Festival & Rocky Mountain Highland Games
- 1st Place - Best Pipe Band Entry; Littleton Western Welcome Week Parade
- 3rd Place - Quick March Medley; 34th Annual Long's Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival
- 1st Place - Best Band Buffalo Bill Days Parade - Golden
- 2nd Place - Evergreen Rodeo Parade - Evergreen Colorado
- 3rd Place - Colorado Irish Festival Quick March Medley
- 4th Place - Colorado Scottish Festival & Rocky Mtn Highland Games Quick March Medley
- 4th Place - 33rd Annual Longs Peak Scottish Festival Quick March Medley
- 5th Place - Quick March Medley; Utah Scottish Festival & Highland Games
- Greeley Stampede Independence Day Parade
- Cheyenne Wyoming Frontier Days Parade
- 2nd Place - Littleton's Western Welcome Week Parade
- Cheyenne Wyoming Frontier Days Parade
- 1st Place - Best Pipe Band Entry; 46th Annual Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade
- 1st Place - Nebraska Land Days Parade Heritage Division
- 2nd Place - Littleton's Western Welcome Week Parade
- 3rd Place - Colorado Irish Festival Band Medley
- 4th Place - Colorado Scottish Festival & Rocky Mtn Highland Games Band Medley
- 4th Place - 32nd Annual Longs Peak Scottish Festival Band Medley
- Cheyenne Wyoming Frontier Days Parade
- 1st Place - Best Pipe Band Entry; 45th Annual Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade
- 1st Place - Nebraska Land Days Parade Heritage Division
- 2nd Place - Littleton's Western Welcome Week Parade
- 2nd Place - Colorado Scottish Festival & Rocky Mtn Highland Games Quick March Medley
- 2nd Place - Colorado Scottish Festival & Rocky Mtn Highland Games Band Medley
- 4th Place - Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival Band Medley
- 4th Place - 31st Annual Longs Peak Scottish Festival Band Medley
- Cheyenne Wyoming Frontier Days Parade
- 1st Place - Best Band Buffalo Bill Days Parade - Golden
- 2nd Place - Littleton's Western Welcome Week Parade
- 4th Place - Colorado Scottish Festival & Rocky Mtn Highland Games Quick March Medley
- 4th Place - Colorado Scottish Festival & Rocky Mtn Highland Games Band Medley
- Cheyenne Wyoming Frontier Days Parade
- 1st Place - Best Band Buffalo Bill Days Parade - Golden
- 1st Place - Rio Rancho (New Mexico) Highland Games Drum Corps
- 2nd Place - Rio Rancho (New Mexico) Highland Games Quick March Medley
- 2nd Place - Rio Rancho (New Mexico) Highland Games Band Medley
- 3rd Place - Colorado Scottish Festival & Rocky Mtn Highland Games Quick March Medley
- 3rd Place - Colorado Scottish Festival & Rocky Mtn Highland Games Band Medley
- Cheyenne Wyoming Frontier Days Parade
- 1st Place - Best Pipe Band Entry; 42nd Annual Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade
- 1st Place - Best Band Buffalo Bill Days Parade - Golden
- 1st Place - 28th Annual Longs Peak Scottish Festival Drum Corps
- 1st Place - Kiowa Highland Games Drum Corps
- 2nd Place - Littleton's Western Welcome Week Parade
- 3rd Place - Kiowa Celtic Highland Games Quick March Medley
- Cheyenne Wyoming Frontier Days Parade
- 1st Place - Best Performance Band Award; Western Welcome Week Parade
- Cheyenne Wyoming Frontier Days Parade
- 1st Place - Best Pipe Band Entry; 40th Annual Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade
- 1st Place - Best Band Buffalo Bill Days Parade - Golden
- 2nd Place - Littleton's Western Welcome Week Parade
- 4th Place - Rio Rancho (New Mexico) Highland Games Quick March Medley
- 1st Place - Best Pipe Band Entry; 39th Annual Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade
- 1st Place - Best Band Buffalo Bill Days Parade - Golden
- 1st Place - Grand Junction, Colorado Celtic Festival Drum Corps
- 1st Place - Grand Junction, Colorado Celtic Festival Pipe Trio Competition
- 1st Place - Longs Peak Scottish Festival WUSPBA Durward Trophy Drum Salute
- 2nd Place - Littleton's Western Welcome Week Parade
- 3rd Place - Grand Junction, Colorado Celtic Festival Band Medley
- 1st Place - Best Pipe Band Entry; 38th Annual Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade
- 1st Place - Best Pipe Band Entry; Grand Junction Colorado Celtic Festival
- 1st Place - Best Band Buffalo Bill Days Parade - Golden
- 1st Place - Kiowa Celtic Highland Games Quick March Medley
- 1st Place - Grand Junction, Colorado Celtic Festival Band Medley
- 1st Place - Grand Junction, Colorado Celtic Festival Drum Corps
- 2nd Place - 24th Annual Longs Peak Scottish Festival Drum Corps
- 2nd Place - Littleton's Western Welcome Week Parade
- 1st Place - Best Band Buffalo Bill Days Parade - Golden
- 2nd Place - Littleton's Western Welcome Week Parade
- AOH Hibernians of the Year Award
- 2nd Place - Littleton's Western Welcome Week Parade
- 1st Place - Aspen Parade Best Band Award (January snowstorm)
- 4th Place - Littleton's Western Welcome Week Parade
- 3rd Place - First Band Parade; Littleton Western Welcome Week