Last chance for youngsters to pipe up for championships

TIME is running out for schools across Scotland to get their entries in for the world’s biggest schools pipe band event before the final deadline for this year passes.

The closing date for applications to compete in the annual schools pipe band competition in Edinburgh in March is January 20.

The Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships attracts 700 youngsters from 120 schools and was established to encourage the formation of school pipe bands.

It features taster grades for youngsters with no competing experience, as well as providing a forum for schools competing at the highest level.

Alexandra Duncan, chief executive of the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT), which organises the event, said: ‘ We are delighted to be hosting the championships once more and have already received a huge number of entries.

‘ With the closing date for applications fast approaching, we are encouraging anyone wishing to compete to visit our website (http://thechampionships.org. uk/enter- championships-2017/) and enter now.’

The SSPDT has also revealed plans to double its vital funding through its schools programme to allow pupils in Scotland the chance to learn the pipes and drums on the same basis as other orchestral instruments.

In its first year, more than 1,000 pupils in Scotland – in 93 state schools from 13 local authority areas – received tuition under schemes funded by the SSPDT, which totalled around £275,000.

But the charity has said it is prepared to invest £ 500,000 in tutors and loaning instruments in 2017 to ensure even more young people can be taught.