Pipe up and join contest

Young musicians in Monklands are being urged to get their entries in for the world’s biggest schools piping competition.

From quartets to pipe bands at the top of their game, the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships offers a platform to showcase the country’s musical heritage.

The championships – taking place next March – feature eight categories including a freestyle section which encourages musicians to team up with singers and dancers to create a performance which offers “a novel twist on piping music with emphasis on innovation and fun”.

Alexandra Duncan, chief executive of event organisers the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT), said they want to see entry numbers surpass the 65 bands that took part in this year’s event.

She said: “We want to encourage any individual, school or community group in North Lanarkshire to look at supporting pupils to represent their schools next year – to proudly represent their region and to help us make these championships the biggest yet.

“We’d be delighted to secure entries from performers who have only recently started playing, perhaps as a result of support from the Trust.

“The championships celebrate Scotland’s incredible musical heritage and showcase the young people who are its future, helping to preserve an integral part of our country’s culture.

“It’s a truly enjoyable day of competition, fellowship and fun and the young musicians attending have a chance to create long-term friendships with each other.”

To enter a quartet requires just four pipers, or three pipers and a tutor; pipe bands can enter categories ranging from debut to novice juvenile.

Schools that need more players to form a quartet or a band can join forces with other schools in the same local education authority.

The SSPDT was created after its founders recognised that pipe bands – once thriving and at the heart of local communities – were struggling to find new members, yet pipes and drums were not taught in schools.

Since then, the Trust has helped 47 schools pipe bands to form, building on tuition provided in 265 schools.

Alexandra added: “Pipe bands open the doors to travel for young people and are source of pride and focus in schools and the community.

“More importantly, though, they give opportunities to develop a unique set of skills for life – resilience, teamwork, self-esteem, perseverance and more.

“This is why our work is so important to us.”

For more information on how to enter the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships, visit https:// thechampionships.org.uk/