Casper residents are invited to a free, family‑friendly celebration of Christmas music on Saturday, December 19 at 2:00 p.m. in Wheeler Concert Hall at Casper College. The event marks the 10th anniversary of the annual Bagpipes at Christmas Concert, a tradition that began a decade ago when Dr. Matt Mitchell played his bagpipes in the lobby of Summit Medical Center.
From a Solo Performance to a Community Tradition
What started as a single bagpipe performance has grown into a full‑scale concert featuring the Lander Pipe Band, now boasting more than thirty bagpipers and drummers. Over the years the venue has moved from the Summit Medical Center lobby to Highland Park Community Church, and finally to the larger Wheeler Concert Hall, which hosted a record crowd of 400 people last year.
Expanded Musical Lineup
This year the program expands beyond bagpipes to include strings, brass and the traditional Irish Uilleann pipes, offering a rich Celtic sound. Special MCs Jake Carlson and Val Reed will guide the afternoon, while Matt, president of Wyoming for Heroes, is honored for his original one‑man bagpipe show that sparked the tradition.
Supporting Veterans and First Responders
The concert serves as a fundraiser for Wyoming for Heroes (formerly the Jerry Behrens Foundation), a nonprofit dedicated to assisting Wyoming veterans and first responders facing personal or medical crises. Proceeds will also support the Jerry Behrens Foundation Scholarship, which helps Wyoming‑resident veterans, active‑duty service members and current first responders pursue education at Casper College.
How to Participate
Admission is completely free and no tickets are required. Attendees are encouraged to donate during the event, and for the first time, Wyoming for Heroes merchandise will be sold, with all proceeds directed to the nonprofit and scholarship fund. For more information about the scholarship, contact the Office of Veterans Services at Casper College.
Stay updated on Wyoming for Heroes at wyomingforheroes.com and follow them on Facebook.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
