The sounds of bagpipes and drum lines filled the auditorium of the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center Tuesday night as The Washington Tattoo, a nonprofit, raised money for veterans and underserved youth while celebrating Scottish tradition.
The event, also known as "the Tartan Day Tattoo," kicked off "D.C. Tartan Week," which celebrates the Scottish' contributions to the United States, specifically through the Scottish Diaspora. The U.S. Senate officially declared Tartan Day in 1998 to honor Scottish heritage, and events such as The Tartan Day Tattoo occur around the country annually.
The ticketed event included performances from Scottish singer Joy Dunlop, Scottish bagpiper Craig Weir, U.S. National Scottish fiddle champion Seán Heely, bagpipe soloist Lorne Cousin, Scottish bagpipe rock band "The Rollin Drones," Highland dance team "OzScot Australia," gospel vocalist and retired Sgt 1st Class KC Armstrong, The Cold Steel Drumline of North Carolina A&T University, the Macmillan Pipe Band and the St. Andrew's Society of Washington D.C. Color Guard.
The Washington Tattoo, founded in 2019, is a Virginia-based nonprofit that offers music lessons and resources to veterans and underserved youth in the D.C. area while bringing immersive performances and knowledge of military tattoos to the community. "Tattoos" are events consisting of music and performances from military and civilian personnel.
According to the organization's website, The Washington Tattoo's mission is to "reshape today's conversation around mental health for active duty personnel, first responders, and families through the power of music wellness."
The Washington Tattoo is using the Tartan Day event proceeds to help fund two of its outreach programs: "Rudiments to Recovery" and "Rudiments to Opportunity." Both programs utilize music education to serve the community.
"Rudiments to Recovery" is a program targeted towards veterans and first responders who have post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injuries. It offers group and one-on-one music lessons to teach individuals to embrace music wellness through drumming. Every veteran in the program receives a drum pad, instructions, a workbook, drumsticks, and "words of encouragement."
The Rudiments to Recovery program participants learn how to play two to three new drum rudiments every week. By the end of the six-week program, participants will have mastered all 26 basic rudiments and can play the well-known military cadence, C-130, "Rolling Down the Strip."
Chief Strategy Officer for the Washington Tattoo Edward Krzysik said that the initial idea behind the program was for veterans to give back to other veterans. Krzysik served in the Army as an Old Guard Fife and Drum Corp member.
'It's an opportunity for those veterans that are dealing with challenges to meet and establish relationships with former military musicians," Krzysik said.
Krzysik said the patriotism and service of The Washington Tattoo is what initially attracted him to the organization's programs.
"Initially, it was the opportunity to have a veteran outreach program, that we, as ex-military musicians, can give back to the veteran community in something so unique as music," Krzysik said. "We were lucky enough to be good enough to be military musicians, and to have an opportunity and an avenue to give back to the veteran community."
The other Washington Tattoo program, "Rudiments to Opportunity," provides music education, instruments, performances, and resources to youth in the D.C. area. The program is free to all students and available during school hours, making it readily available to primary school students.
Mark Reilly, CEO and president of the Washington Tattoo, served as a U.S. Army sergeant major and has been a musician for over 15 years. Reilly has been the Marching Percussion Committee chairman since 2015 and is passionate about music education and service.
"We've actually performed for over 1,000 D.C public school kids last year, this year we are on track to have about 1,200 kids that we will perform for," Reilly said. "I am a music educator at heart, I love teaching, I love seeing like that light bulb coming on, so giving back to our service members in a way through music, dance and community is just something I really live for."
The global performers from the Tartan Day Tattoo event are all from personal connections to members at The Washington Tattoo, according to Reilly.
"Being in the military music space, we are able to travel the world, and you meet military musicians who do what you do all around the globe," Reilly said. "So as people retire or they leave the military… we still keep those connections alive."
The Cold Steel Drumline from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University was one of the groups that performed at the Tartan Day Tattoo. The group of 50 drummers provides rhythmic tempos and cadences as a part of the university's marching band.
Isaiah Tatum is the drumline captain and a senior at North Carolina A&T. Tatum led the other percussionists in their electrifying performance Tuesday, which ended with roaring cheers from the crowded concert hall.
Tatum described the musical event as an "eye opening experience about different traditions and where people come from."
"I actually am a little bit surprised about some of the people that I got to meet and see here, some of the other performers; people from Australia, Canada," Tatum said. "It was just an honor to be here and the proceeds going to something that matters is always good"
Unity, mental wellness and community through music were common themes of the event, and they are a central goal of The Washington Tattoo.
"Everyone has a favorite song when they drive down the road and hear that favorite tune, it uplifts them, so we know when we have challenges in our life, that if I hear the right song or the right tune at the right time, I may not make that really bad decision to do something when I'm in a dark place with a mental health struggle," Reilly said.
Those wishing to get involved as a volunteer or participant with The Washington Tattoo can visit their website at https://www.thewashingtontattoo.com .
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