East Ross Young pipers and drummers rise up the ranks after performing at World Championships

  • Watch their performance on YouTube

Twenty three East Ross school pupils who are members of Ross and Cromarty Pipes and Drum School (RACPADS) travelled south to the recent World Pipe Band Championships held in Glasgow  This is a massive achievement for any band, but even more so when the ages of this bands members are taken into consideration.  

By qualifying for the final, it means that the band finished in the top 12 in the world for their category and they have now been promoted to the new grade - Novice Juvenile (A). This follows on from their success in the European Championships held in June which saw the band be awarded the Jim Baxter Shield for their performance.

The bands members are all pupils from East Ross schools and commit to this Area groups activities as an extension to their tuition from the Highland Council’s Instrumental Tuition Service.  RACPADS members are tutored by Niall Matheson (pipes) and Drew Caldwell (drumming), who are both rightly proud of their pupils achievements.    

The Highland Council’s Music Development Officer, Norman Bolton said: “The Council continues to be fully supportive of this additional aspect of pupils education across the region. The commitment and devotion to RACPADS by pupils, their parents and staff has led to great success over the past year.  Piping is an integral part of our areas heritage, and in addition to all the other musical genres we are able to offer access to through our Tuition Service, we can be very proud of the achievements of the many talented young people in Highland.”

21 Aug 2015