Eight bands are registered to compete at the Virginia International Tattoo American Pipe Band Championship at Scope Plaza in Norfolk, Virginia on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
The contest format will require each band to play twice—first in a March, Strathspey and Reel event and then in a Medley event—for a panel of eight highly acclaimed international judges. Cash prizes will be awarded to the aggregate winners in each grade:
This year’s contest will once again be livestreamed on the Virginia International Tattoo’s Facebook page beginning at noon Eastern Time which is 5pm in the UK. The closing ceremonies will also be livestreamed at 5.50pm EDT. To see videos from previous contests, search for #VITAPBC on Facebook.
Grade Three:
Carnegie Mellon University Pipes and Drums, Pittsburgh PA
MacMillan Birtles Pipe Band, Rockville MD
Major Sinclair Memorial, Ballyclare, Northern Ireland
Saint Thomas Episcopal School Pipe Band, Houston TX
Siren City Pipe Band, Norfolk VA
Wake and District Public Safety Pipes and Drums, Raleigh NC
Grade 3 Prizes: $1,500, first place; $1,000, second place; $500, third place.
Grade Two:
MacMillan Pipe Band, Washington DC
Ulster Scottish Pipe Band, Philadelphia PA
Grade 2 Prizes: $2,000, first place; $1,000, second place; $500, third place.
The event will also include a fun Drum Fanfare Competition with a single “winner takes all” $1,000 prize.
The American Pipe Band Championship is free and open to the public on Scope Plaza in Downtown Norfolk, Virginia.
Andrew Carlisle, a Professor of Music and the Director of Piping at Carnegie Mellon University and a longtime member of the 13-time world champion Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band in Northern Ireland, will return as the contest’s Artistic Director.
Andrew said: “It will be great to hear bagpipes and drums echoing around Scope Plaza again. Located in the middle of a vibrant city centre – the venue is one of the most exciting locations for a pipe band competition. Fingers crossed for the weather,” he added, “but as we have found out in the past… we have the unique ability to move the competition indoors to the 8,000 seat Scope Arena if we need it.”
The American Pipe Band Championship coincides with the Virginia International Tattoo, which will take place April 24-27 at Scope Arena. The international Massed Pipes and Drums this year will feature: Camden County Emerald Society Pipes and Drums (Camden NJ), Major Sinclair Memorial Pipe Band (Ballyclare, Northern Ireland), Mesa Caledonian Pipe Band (Mesa AZ), Pipes & Drums of the Royal Caledonian Society of South Australia (Adelaide, Australia), Royal Canadian Air Force Pipes and Drums (Canada), and Tidewater Pipes and Drums (Norfolk VA)
The Virginia International Tattoo American Pipe Band Championship originated in 2016, when J. Scott Jackson, General Manager of the Virginia Arts Festival and Producer/Director of the Virginia International Tattoo, added the event to draw competitive pipe bands to the Tattoo’s diverse line-up. Scotland’s Inveraray & District Pipe Band won the inaugural event, which featured four Grade 1 bands. Grade 2 champions in subsequent years included City of Dunedin Pipe Band in 2017 and 2018, MacMillan Pipe Band in 2019 and 2022 and Ulster Scottish Pipe Band in 2023 and 2024.
For more information about the Virginia International Tattoo, visit: www.vafest.org/tattoo. For more information about the Virginia Arts Festival, visit: www.vafest.org.