|
There have been many notable performances this year but the highlight for me was a fund raising ball hosted by Erskine Hospital at the Glasgow Hilton Hotel. We played music combined with the Lowland Band of Scottish Division for the first time and the Director of Music's comment that, "We must do this more often" led to some of us playing with the band on the recording of a CD which is yet to be released. The engagement went very well from our perspective and there were many favourable comments. Everybody seemed to be pleased with the performance except the chef who was terribly annoyed that nobody ate during the performance meaning that he had to readjust his schedule by 15 minutes.
The Pipes and Drums appeared at all the Scotland Internationals as usual this year. What was not usual about these performances was the new marketing team called "Event Mechanics", whose original and inventive
|
approach to pre-match entertainment led to some slightly surreal rehearsals and "off-the-cuff" shows. The standing joke on the lead up to Murrayfields this year was that Pipe Major Ross had been asked to play the solo part of Highland Cathedral while descending into Murrayfield on a parachute. This year at Murrayfield we had the pleasure of playing with some excellent bands such as the Lothian and Borders Police, Scottish Power and
Drambuie. The last two matches saw all of the independent schools in Scotland appearing in the biggest ever massed Pipes and Drums at Murrayfield and there is still one match left to go. God only knows what 'Event Mechanics' will produce next!
The best is yet to come this year. In the summer the Pipes, Drums and Dancers will be appearing for the first time since 1990 at the Edinburgh Tattoo. A lot of work has gone into this engagement and a lot more is to come.
|
We will also have the opportunity to tackle more competitions (including the world's). Everybody is looking forward to this after getting the bug for competition at Peebles lastyear.
I think the Pipe Band has continued to flourish and its professionalism has continued to shine through some very difficult times, such as Murrayfields. My heart felt thanks go out to
everybody in the band for helping to make my final year in the Pipes and Drums of Queen Victoria School a memorable, eventful and, on the most part, a pleasurable one. I look forward to returning to play with you on Old Victorians weekend.
Thanks again,
Boy Pipe Major,
Steve Tierney. S6
NEXT PAGE
|
