What a weekend for the Lathallan School Pipe Band! On Sunday, 8th March, 17 of our talented young musicians travelled down to Kilmarnock to compete in the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships. This wasn’t just any competition, it was a record-breaking year for the event. Held at the William McIlvanney Campus, the championships attracted 172 schools from across Scotland, marking the largest turnout in the event’s 12-year history.
A Top 10 Finish
Our pipers and drummers took to the stage in the Junior B category and secured a fantastic 8th place overall. This achievement is even more impressive given the experience level of our ensemble this year. Half of our drummers were competing for the very first time, and several pipers were also making their competitive debut on the national stage. Stepping out in front of judges at such a massive event takes courage, and our pupils handled the pressure with grace and discipline.
Lathallan School Pipe Major, Oliver (S6), said:
“I was very impressed and proud with the overall performance I think there has been a big improvement in the standard of playing since last year’s competition, it was a great experience for us all to play on the main stage which we haven’t done for a number of years and hopefully everyone will now be wanting to compete in more competitions which is something the band could look to do next year”
The championships, organised by the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT). Lindsay MacKenzie, CEO of the Trust, perfectly put it:
“What we saw on Sunday wasn’t just competition, it was confidence, teamwork and young people from diverse communities coming together through music.”
Catch Them Live This Summer
If you want to hear our Pipe Band in action, there are plenty of opportunities coming up! They will be performing at the beginning of our Lathallan School Rugby 7s Tournament on the 18th April, and we are also planning an exciting mid-summer tour of local castles on the 10th June. For those looking for a festival vibe, the band will even be taking to the stage at the Summers End festival on 16th August.
We are incredibly proud of our pupils for representing Lathallan School so well on such a platform. Their hard work in rehearsals clearly paid off, and the experience gained this weekend will be invaluable as they continue to develop their music.
Congratulations to all our pipers and drummers!