A record-breaking number of young musicians from across Scotland took to the stage at this year’s Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships, making it the most widely attended event in the competition’s history.
Held at Kilmarnock’s William McIlvanney Campus on Sunday 9th March, the Championships saw 94 bands from 144 schools compete across eight categories.
By Lesley Wilkinson
Among the standout moments of the day was the victory of Sgoil Bhàgh a’Chaisteil in the highly competitive Freestyle category, winning them £2,500.
Organised by the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT), the Championships continue to highlight how more young people are now learning pipes and drums as part of their education.
‘This year’s Championships have been a landmark event,’ said Lindsay MacKenzie, CEO of SSPDT. ‘The camaraderie, teamwork and shared passion for piping and drumming were truly inspiring.’
The Championships featured a range of categories, designed to provide both a high-level competitive platform and an encouraging environment for school bands with minimal or no competition experience.
Freestyle: 1 Sgoil Bhàgh a’Chaisteil 2 Gordonstoun 3 Renfrew Schools ‘A’ 4 Tynecastle Youth & Community 5 Preston Lodge
Juvenile: 1 George Watson’s 2 Dollar Academy 3 George Heriot’s
Nov. Juv. A: 1 George Watson’s 2 Lochgelly High 3 North Lanarkshire Schools 4 West Lothian Schools
Nov. Juv. B: 1 George Watson’s 2 Skye Youth Pipe Band 3 Erskine Stewart’s Melville 4 Merchiston Castle Junior A: 1 Fettes 2 Morrison’s Academy
Junior B: 1 Glasgow Academy 2 High Life Highland 3 Dumfries & Galloway Schools 4 Gordonstoun 5 Alford Academy
Junior C: 1st equal: Arran & Kinross Schools 3 Strathmore Schools 4 Glasgow City Schools 5 James Gillespie’s High
Quartets: 1 East Dunbarton Schools 2 Perth & Kinross Schools 3 East Renfrewshire Schools 4 Govan Schools Community 5 St Leonard’s School
The Eilidh MacLeod Endeavour Award for outstanding dedication and resilience was presented to Lewis & Harris Youth Pipe Band. Second were Tynecastle Youth & Community, with Isle of Skye Youth third.
Since its launch in 2015, SSPDT has by provided free instrument loans, tuition grants and internship programmes. It currently supports young musicians and schools across 27 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities. A full breakdown of results: http://www.thechampionships.org.uk/
Shotts Concert
Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band have announce that their 2025 Worlds Week concert will be headlined by Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia. The date is Wednesday, 13th August 2025 at The Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow.
Shotts Pipe Major Emmett Conway: ‘We are delighted to play in the prestigious concert in front of pipers and drummers from all around the world. The band is fortunate to have extremely talented members who have composed and arranged some new music for the concert and I feel this is the perfect platform to showcase their talent alongside our more traditional material.
‘We are very much looking forward also to shining a light on some historical moments in the rich heritage of the band, formed in the historic mining and ironwork town of Shotts, Lanarkshire. It once exported so many gas lamps that the town’s famous slogan was ‘Shotts lights the world’.
‘Therefore, we felt it very fitting to name our concert ‘SOLAS’ which means light. We have some special guests joining us on stage and we look forward to seeing everyone there for a night we hope won’t be forgotten.’
Glasgow Skye has been producing the ‘Pre-Worlds’ concert since 1994. Organiser Kurt Mackintosh said: ‘This will be the forth time Shotts have headlined the show – the last time being in 2017. I know the amount of work the band are putting into this year’s event and I’ve no doubt we are all in for another fantastic evening.’
Tickets, average £37, from the RCH box office in person, via telephone (0141 353 8000), or online at https://tickets.glasgowlife.org.uk/36265/36266 . For updates on the show go to Shotts’ Facebook page or their website.
