Young pipers and drummers are sounding the advance for Perthshire as they prepare for a national schools competition dedicated to stoking up passion for Scotland’s national musical heritage.
Students from schools across the country will travel to Edinburgh next year to take part in the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships.
Delighted organisers say the response has been overwhelming after the success of the first competition, which took place in March with the motto: Every School Needs a Pipe Band.
Bands from Crieff High School, The Community School of Auchterarder and Morrison’s Academy have already entered the 2014 competition, which has categories for every level including fledgling outfits that may not have previously competed or even played in public.
Crieff High’s acting depute head teacher, Christine Couser, said the school’s band was “really looking forward” to the event. “It’s encouraging to see such a high interest in piping amongst the younger generations,” she said.
“The Crieff High School Pipe Band has enjoyed great success since its formation and thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the championships last year. We are looking to improve on last year’s performance.”
Youngsters at Morrison’s Academy also returned from the first championship with great memories and are once again delighted to be taking part.
“Having had such a brilliant experience last year, competing in the novice juvenile category, we’re looking forward to the upcoming competition in 2014,” said the school’s bursar, Alistair Beaton.
“All the young people involved in the band have been really dedicated to working together as a team and have put a lot of effort into their performance pieces.
“We can’t wait to meet lots of other schools and familiar faces at the competition.
“Piping is an important part of Scotland’s tradition so it’s wonderful to see lots of young people who are passionate about our national instrument.”
A total of 40 schools entered the inaugural competition, which was widely hailed as a runaway success.
Some 64 schools have already registered for the 2014 event but organisers are keen to encourage even more schools or to encourage established community pipe bands to work with schools to enter the event to sign up by the January 24 deadline.
The competition will take place on March 9 and will be held between Broughton High School in Edinburgh and neighbouring Fettes College. Expert judges at the event will include the Pipe Major of Shotts and Dykehead Pipe Band, Robert Mathieson, Gary West, presenter of Pipeline on BBC Radio Scotland, and Craig Munro from the hugely successful Red Hot Chilli Pipers, who have helped bring pipe music to a new, global audience.
Competition organisers were thrilled at the level of talent displayed last year from schools across Scotland and believe that the momentum created by the second year of competition could see pipe bands established in many more schools.
David Johnston, chairman of the committee behind the competition, said: “I’m delighted that, following the success of our inaugural competition, where the talent was truly outstanding, many new schools will be competing for the first time.
“It’s great to find so many junior musicians get involved in piping. Interest in school piping has been gaining great momentum in the past 10 years, partly because piping has gradually become quite fashionable.
“Bands like Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Mnran have also influenced many students to play, which is why we’ve included our new freestyle musicianship event where groups can choose something completely different to play. Our aim is to encourage as many young people as possible to get into piping and drumming.”
Schools still have until January 24 to submit an entry. For more details visit www.scottishschoolspipebandchampionships.com.