Ross-shire pupils aiming to blow the competition away at Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championship
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A major championship is around the corner for budding pipers at eight Highland schools.
Dingwall Academy, Fortrose Academy, Plockton High School and Kyle Primary School are all set to take part in this year's Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championship (SSPBC) alongside other Highland competitors, Central Primary School in Inverness and Portree Gaelic Primary, Portree High School and Portree Primary on Skye.
Altogether 121 schools from across the country will compete.
Entries are also now officially open for the competition’s coveted Eilidh MacLeod Endeavour Award – an award honouring the young Manchester Arena attack victim from Barra, who would have turned 18 this month.
The Championships was launched in 2013, as part of a nationwide drive by the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT) to revive dwindling access to the instruments across schools – despite evidence of multiple positive benefits.
Alexandra Duncan, chief executive of SSPDT, said: “The Championships are a huge day in the piping calendar and after a long break due to the pandemic, we are sure it will be a very special return next month.
“Playing in pipe bands can improve so much more than just musical skills for young people and the Championships next month are a major celebration of that.
“As the big day gets closer, we can’t wait to welcome more than 120 schools to what is always an incredible, music-filled celebration.”
Featuring 81 performances across the day, the event will be hosted by East Ayrshire Council and see pipe bands, quartets and freestyle ensembles go head-to-head at the William McIlvanney Campus in Kilmarnock on March 12.
Expert judges will adjudicate eight categories, ranging from debut to novice juvenile.
The Championship is independently organised by SSPDT, supported by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.
The Trust was formed with the belief that pipe bands are much more than a musical pastime; they develop life and employability skills and attributes such as teamwork, shared and individual achievement, resilience and perseverance, self-confidence, camaraderie and a sense of discipline and dress.
