Pipers ready for blast-off with schools bands battle

Contest: Biggest gathering in world

It is already the biggest schools piping cometition in the world – and this year’s is set to be even bigger, according to organisers.

Organisers of next year’s Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships say they expect more than 150 schools from across Scotland to be represented.

Event organiser Patrick Gascoigne said the predicted boost is based on the number of pupils being taught in programmes run by parent charity the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust.

The trust recently set up the biggest free bagpipe loan scheme in the world.

He said: “The work of the trust has been growing very fast and we now have projects going in 18 council areas supporting lessons to over 2,500 young people.

“We are getting a large number of inquiries from schools wanting to come along to the event on March 10 in Livingston already.”

Last year there were more than 70 performances during the day and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon presented prizes to the winning bands.

Alexandra Duncan, trust chief executive, said: “SSPDT aims to safeguard our wonderful musical traditions and to help young people develop skills for life, learning and work, with a focus on deprived and remote areas, by helping to introduce piping and drumming tuition to state schools on a par with orchestral instruments.

“We established the championships in 2011 to offer a positive and friendly experience for players who are new to competition, and as a forum for bands at the very top of their game. We are delighted to see entries from new schools pipe bands that have been created with the trust’s help. The trust has resources to support more state schools in Scotland to introduce piping and drumming tuition, and we invite local education authorities, teachers and parents to contact us. All inquiries can be made via our website sspdt.org.uk”

The championships are held in Inveralmond Community High School in Livingston and entries can be made through the website.

The popularity of the event is a major success for the organisers, who only four years ago were campaigning for more tuition in state schools.

At that time they feared Scotland’s national instrument was in danger of extinction.

The contest received the backing of Craig Munro, of the hugely successful Red Hot Chilli Pipers.

“We are getting a large number of inquiries from schools”

MUSICAL YOUTH: Portree High School performing in the Novice Juvenile B contest at this year’s championships