St. James Cathedral Piper-in-Residence Tyrone Heade created and leads Iona Abbey, Seattle's only Scottish acoustic ensemble. His mission with Iona Abbey is to allow thoughtful discovery of the deep Scottish musical tradition through sympathetic exploration with instruments other than the Highland Bagpipe. The music is rarely explored in this way, even by present day music groups of Celtic origin. The tunes performed by Iona Abbey would often only be heard by Great Highland pipers in competition setting, and not usually with string and bodhrán accompaniment. With other instruments accompanying the Scottish Reel or Small Pipe, the tunefulness of the music is brought out with a sensitive air. The melodies become appealing for a wider audience, more up close than usually found with a traditionally abrupt unison performance of the Highland Pipe and Drum competition.