Highland schools’ triumph at Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships
Highland school pipe bands received a number of accolades at last Sunday’s Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships which were held in Edinburgh’s James Gillespie School.
Gairloch High School won the Debut B competition - the first prize they've won for the band and schools piping in general in the area. Highland Council’s Piping Instructor, Gary Nimmo is rightly proud of the hard work and commitment shown by all members of the band.
In the Novice Juvenile ‘A’ March Strathspey and Reel competition, Ross & Cromarty Pipes & Drums, tutored by Niall Matheson and Drew Caldwell were placed third behind George Watsons College and Dollar Academy. The band is fortunate to have support from a number of music volunteers and a highly active parents’ group who are extremely proud of the band’s achievements.
Lochalsh Junior Pipe Band was placed 1st in the Novice Juvenile 'B' category - the 3rd year running that they have won their grade at these championships. Niall Stewart, the Council’s Piping Instructor for the area was delighted with the band’s performance, as was their drumming Instructor, Drew Caldwell.
Lochalsh Junior Pipe Band
Other bands competing but not placed were: City of Inverness Youth Pipe Band; Skye Youth Pipe Band and Ullapool High School
Highland Council’s Music Development Officer, Norman Bolton, said that “the high level of representation at these championships from Highland is a credit to the hard work of our team of peripatetic instructors who give much more than is required of them by our Instrumental Tuition Service. The discipline of preparation and presentation for this kind of event gives band members a wonderful experience beyond the obvious musical aspects and we certainly hope that they can build on the weekend’s successes as the competition season gets into full swing.”
The Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships is a showcase of the talent of young musicians designed to promote the playing of national instruments. Competition categories provide a forum for top level competition as well as a positive and encouraging environment for school pipe bands with minimal or no competing experience. The second Sunday in March sees hundreds of young people from across Scotland and England converge on Edinburgh for a day of music, friendship and fun.