Pipe Band Finish Indoor Competition Season On A High Note

The Pipe Band finished their indoor season with some fantastic results at three indoor competitions in the final weeks of last term. 

The Juvenile and Novice A bands were both runners up at the Scottish Schools Championships on Sunday 12 March, with the drummers from our Novice B band finishing first in their category. 

On Sunday 26 March the Juvenile Band won the Glasgow Highland Club competition held at Hutchesons’ Grammar School, with the drummers also finishing in top spot. There were also prizes in the solo events for Alasdair (S5) who was 4th in the Senior Piping and Murray (S2) who achieved 3rd place in the Junior Piping event. Freddie (S5) was awarded 1st place in the Senior Solo Drumming, with Tom (S4) and Archie (S5) coming 2nd and 3rd respectively. Max (S2) placed 2nd in the Junior Drumming. 

After a thoroughly enjoyable performance by our Juvenile band at the Usher Hall as part of A Celebration of Music at George Watson’s College, the bands then moved onto the RSPBA Lothian & Borders branch indoor event on Saturday 1 April. Delivering very strong performances, the Novice B, Novice A and Juvenile bands were all awarded 1st prize in their respective categories by the adjudicators with all 3 drum corps also gaining 1st place. To round off a fantastic few weeks for our pupils, there were numerous prizes in the various solo events on the same day, including the following:

Practice Chanter 10 Yrs & Under

1st Matthew (P6)

2nd Murray (P6)

3rd Jack (P6)

4th Scott (P6)

Practice Chanter 11 Yrs & Over

1st Cameron (P7)

2nd Fraser (P7)

Practice Pad 10 Yrs & Under

1st Ollie (P6)

2nd Holly (P6)

4th Felix (P6)

Practice Pad 11 Yrs & Over

1st Cameron (P7)

2nd Gregor (S2)

Piping 14 Years & Under MSR 

2nd Lyle (S3)

Piping 18 Years & Under MSR

3rd Jamie (S6)

Drumming 14 Years & Under MSR

1st Oliver (S3)

Drumming 18 Years & Under MSR

1st Freddie (S5)

2nd Mark (S6)

3rd Michael (S5)

Tenor Drumming 14 Years & Under MSR

2nd Lily (S3)

Tenor Drumming 18 Years & Under MSR

1st Grace (S4)

4th Madeline (S6)

The bands will now be practising hard to prepare for the outdoor season which starts in May. 

In other piping news, Lyle (S3) has been appointed as Watson’s first ever Principal’s Piper. 

The Principal’s Piper is an exclusive position from S2-S4 that will play for certain school events, welcoming the Principal’s guests, as and when required. The appointment will change on a yearly basis although Lyle will be in post from now until October. Upon his acceptance of the role, Lyle explained how delighted he is to be offered the position: 

“Being the first ever Principal’s Piper is a real honour and a great opportunity for me. I am looking forward to seeing what the role involves as I attend various gigs and dinners led by Mr Roffe. It is a privilege to represent the pipe band and the school in this capacity.”

Well done, Lyle - we look forward to seeing (and hearing!) you at future Watson’s events.