Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Championships entry deadline nearing
Young musicians have until Friday to enter the world’s largest celebration of school piping and drumming.
With the January 31 entry deadline fast approaching, schools are invited to join the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Championships taking place at the William McIlvanney Campus in Kilmarnock on Sunday, March 9.
Organised by the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT), the annual championships are part of a broader effort to promote piping and drumming in schools across the country.
The trust has played a crucial role in breaking down financial barriers to pipe band participation over the past decade, providing cash grants, internships and free instrument loans as well as tuition.
SSPDT Chief executive Alexandra Duncan said: “This competition is about much more than music.
"It’s about giving young people confidence, the experience of working as part of a team and the pride of keeping an important part of Scottish culture alive.
“Last year we had a record 75 bands take part in the championships.”
This year, new bands from Inverclyde, Strathmore, Perth, Glasgow and the Highlands will make their debut in the competition – a reflection of the SSPDT’s long standing teaching programme, which has co-funded more than 60 start-up piping and drumming tutor roles in state schools since the initiative was launched back in 2015.
One of the highlights of the championships is the Freestyle Category, where bands push creative boundaries – combining traditional pipes and drums with unexpected genres, from classical and jazz to rock and pop.
Alexandra added: “The championships are not just about preserving Scottish heritage – they’re about young people making it their own and keeping traditions alive in new and unexpected ways.
“You’ll see bands playing classic Highland tunes right alongside exciting new arrangements with violins, keyboards and guitars.
“It’s amazing to see how pipes and drums are evolving and staying relevant for future generations.”
Championship entries close on Friday, January 31 and the event is open to musicians of all skill levels from beginners to seasoned performers.
Visit www.sspdt.org.uk for more information and to register.