The National Piping Centre is developing a new partnership with Gordon’s School in Surrey. The school was established in 1885 at the behest of Queen Victoria as the National Memorial to General Gordon, a national hero and extraordinary public servant.

Gordon’s has a long history of having a school pipe band and TNPC Director, Finlay MacDonald, and Head of Youth Development, Ailis Sutherland, will be working with the pipers and drummers on Saturday, December 10, in workshops and masterclasses. Finlay and Ailis will also be accompanied by Rachel Thom from Jim Kilpatrick Percussion, who is an 18 and Under World Solo Snare Champion, and Morven Walker from Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band, who is a tenor drumming instructor with The National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland.

To conclude the day of workshops the tutors will perform a recital in the school’s chapel on Saturday evening. Students will work on collaborative items with Finlay and Ailis in the workshops and will perform these alongside the tutors in the recital. It promises to be a memorable evening of pipes, smallpipes, whistles, flutes, drums and more. Tickets can be obtained here.