Southeast Missouri State Golden Eagles felt like celebrities in Scotland

In Scotland, Tyler Scantlan felt like a celebrity. He became accustomed to getting stopped along the Royal Mile, posing for photographs or answering questions about his role in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Performing for crowds of 10,000 people became routine, especially after 26 performances in 23 days. He took up the habit of wearing a kilt when he would frequent pubs, often securing special prices when people would realize his band affiliation.

Scantlan was one of 100 Southeast Missouri State University marching band members to perform overseas on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle throughout August. The Golden Eagles joined massed drummers, Highland dancers, and bands from Singapore, India, Canada and Norway to entertain sold-out crowds.

The American band was particularly popular because most of the other bands were more rigid, military bands. Since 1949, only four American bands have performed in the tattoo.

"Honestly, our playing wasn't as good as the other groups, but we were a lot more fun to watch," said 19-year-old Scantlan, a sousaphone player.

After keeping a high profile in Scotland, Scantlan said it is an adjustment coming back to Cape Girardeau. "No one cares about the band. No one knows the tattoo," he said.

The band used their halftime performance during Thursday night's football game to gain exposure. Dressed in kilts, members performed a standing version of the routine used in Scotland.

Director Barry Bernhardt hopes part of the majesty of Scotland and the tattoo was conveyed to the audience. "Until you go there, you don't know what it's like to step on the esplanade or sit in the stands. You are blown away by the spectacle," he said.

The band returned to the U.S. late Monday evening, missing the first day of class. Only a portion made the trip to Scotland, so Bernhardt had two days to prepare the entire band for the first game of the season. The newest members only played in the stands, not on the field.

A typical day in Scotland for students involved sleeping in and spending the day perusing the Royal Mile, then boarding a bus and traveling to Edinburgh Castle for their performance. Usually they weren't done until after 11 p.m. Students were housed at the University of Edinburgh.

The weather hovered in the 50s while they were there, and it reportedly rained during 16 of their 26 performances. The tattoo has never canceled a show.

Members were featured in photographs that ran in newspapers across the world, including the New York Times, Kansas City Star and USA Today. The BBC broadcast their performance.

"People from the U.K. posted videos on YouTube. It's like, hey, that's us," said Erin Young, a drum major, marveling at being a part of "something so huge."

Trumpet player Brooke Privett wrote a blog about her experiences that was posted on the university's website.

She and other bloggers chronicled taste-tests of haggis, a national dish that is the seasoned minced heart, lungs and liver of a sheep; discussed trips to St. Andrews and Sterling; admitted their nervousness about playing for a U.S. ambassador or the BBC; and excitedly recounted running into comedian Joan Rivers.

Privett said some locals remembered the band from when it performed in the tattoo in 1999.

Before reaching Scotland, band members explored London for two days and performed for the Lord Mayor of York. Performances in Scotland featured the songs "Yankee Doodle," "St. Louie Blues," "America the Beautiful" and "Stars and Stripes Forever."

"It seems like music brings everyone together, no matter where you are from, or what you believe, music is the one thing that ties everything together," member Mary Beth Hicks wrote on her blog.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

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