The Glasgow Highland Club’s Annual Competitions for schools’ pipe bands and individual pipers and drummers will take place on Sunday, February 23, 2025 at Hutchesons’ Grammar School, Beaton Road, Glasgow G41 4NW.
This is a good opportunity to get school bands and individuals out on the boards in an encouraging environment, gaining useful feedback from adjudicators, and building confidence in their performance before the 2025 competition season really gets going.
The Entry Form can be downloaded here. It should be emailed to the competition organiser Don Glass, no later than Friday, January 24, 2025.
Spectators are very welcome. Band contests run from 10.30am; solos competitions begin at 1.00pm.
The Events are:
BAND CONTESTS
- SENIOR GRADE – suitable for bands graded Juvenile (4-parted March, Strathspey and Reel of own choice) for Club Banner and Highland Shield Challenge Trophy. Additional prize for the best Senior Grade Drum Corps.
- INTERMEDIATE GRADE – suitable for bands with competition experience or bands graded Novice Juvenile A (4-parted or 2×2-parted March, Strathspey and Reel) for Craigmount Shield.
- JUNIOR GRADE – suitable for development bands, bands who have not competed or bands in Novice Juvenile B (8 parts of March tempo, any time signature).
INDIVIDUAL COMPETITIONS
- SENIOR PIPING (4-parted March, Strathspey and Reel) open to pipers over 16, or who are over 14 and have previously won a solo piping competition. (Top Prize includes a solid silver Glasgow Highland Club Medal.)
- INTERMEDIATE PIPING (4-Part 2/4 March) open to pipers aged 14-16 who have not previously won at this level.
- JUNIOR PIPING (any March of competitor’s own choice) open to pipers under 14.
- SENIOR DRUMMING (March, Strathspey and Reel) open to drummers 15 and over.
- JUNIOR DRUMMING (4-Part March) open to drummers under 15.
Competition Notes:
- The President, members of the Club and adjudicators, hope that all school bands will be able to take part and that every piper and drummer will play in their appropriate individual event. Please Note: should any school be unable to raise a full band, individual pipers and drummers will be very welcome to take part in the individual competitions.
- Age for those in solo events should be taken as at the date of the competition.
- Solo Drummers should be accompanied by a piper, but if a piper is not available, this will be taken into account by the judge.
- All bands (Senior Grade, Intermediate Grade and Junior Grade) should be led by an adult.
- Individual competitors are asked to note that the judges will permit no more than one minute tuning time in the competition hall as there is plenty of opportunity for tuning in the final tuning rooms allocated. It is preferable to restrict the time tuning than the number of competitors in the senior piping. The co-operation of competitors and instructors is requested.
- There is no restriction on the number of soloists that may enter but in the event of too many competitors, numbers may have to be restricted.
- Adjudicators have been asked to give positive critique and feedback during judging of both Band and Solo performances. Their marking sheets will be available to respective adult instructors at the close of the prize giving.
If the massed bands play, it will be the first two parts of The Glendaruel Highlanders at the close of the competition prior to the announcements of results.
Full details of the Competition are available through the Glasgow Highland Club website below:
The Glasgow Highland Club is very grateful to our sponsors for their support to the event:
- McCallum Bagpipes
- Kingdom Thistle Pipe Band Supplies
- R G Hardie Bagpipes
- Scottish Building Society
- McGill’s Buses
- Tunnock’s