YOUNG MUSICIANS from a Renfrewshire schools pipe band have won gold at one of Scotland’s biggest piping and drumming events.
Renfrewshire Schools Pipe Band hit the right note with the judges at this year’s annual Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championship (SSPBC), bagging wins in the highly-contested Freestyle category.
By Alexandra Duncan, Chief Executive
Ninety-seven schools went head-to-head vying for success across The Championships’ eight categories.
The Championships were launched in 2013, as part of a nationwide drive by the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT) to revive dwindling access to the instruments across schools.
Keith Bowes, tutor with Renfrewshire Schools said: ‘It is just so fantastic to see so many young people on stage with such levels of confidence and talent. To win the Freestyle for the first time was super. We are extremely proud of the young people. They worked so hard on the feedback they received last year and managed to pull off a great performance.’
The array of talented pipe bands, quartets and freestyles showcased their skills on Sunday (March 10) at Kilmarnock’s William McIlvanney Campus.
Dumfries and Galloway Schools, St Ninian’s High School, Glasgow Academy, High School of Glasgow, Fettes College, George Watson’s College and Dollar Academy, all picked up awards across various categories from Junior C to Juvenile.
Quartets: 1 St Ninian’s High 2 East Dunbartonshire Schools 3 Ardrossan Academy 4 Lochgilphead Joint Campus 5 Govan Schools
Junior C: 1 Glasgow Academy 2 Dumfries and Galloway Schools 3 Tobermory High 4th James Gillespie’s High 5 Lewis and Harris Youth
Junior B: 1 High School of Glasgow 2 Fettes 3 Gordonstoun 4 Edinburgh Academy A 5 Lathallan
Junior A: 1 Fettes 2 Morrison’s Acad.
Novice Juvenile B: 1 George Watson’s 2nd Strathallan 3 Dollar Acad. 4 Skye Youth 5 Isle of Arran Music School
Novice Juvenile A: 1 George Watson’s 2 Renfrewshire Schools A 3 Dollar Acad. 4 Lochgelly High 5 George Heriot’s
Freestyle: 1 Renfrewshire Schools A 2 West Lothian Schools 3 Sgoil Bagh a’Chasteil 4 Renfrewshire Schools B 5 Sgoil Lionacleit
Juvenile: 1 Dollar Acad. 2nd George Watson’s 3rd George Heriot’s 4th Preston Lodge High
The Eilidh Macleod Endeavour Award: Lead winner: Dumfries and Galloway Schools; Co-winners – Tynecastle Youth Community and Tobermory High.
The day itself lived up to all the expectations and we were lucky to witness some incredible performances from the bands making it very hard for our judging panel to pick a winner.
We’d like to say a huge thanks to the schools, tutors and parents who continue to show such commitment to supporting these pupils in learning what is an invaluable skill for so many reasons. And thanks to the excellent East Ayrshire Council staff and school staff and pupils for their support of this event.
The Championship is independently organised by the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT). It carries the support of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) but is not a RSPBA competition.
