Author: camillelayt

Help get Lismore City Pipe Band back on their feet after catastrophic floods damaged equipment and their band hall! On Monday, 28th of February 2022, the town of Lismore in northern New South Wales, Australia was inundated with record-breaking floods that peaked at a staggering 14.4 metres (2 metres higher than ever recorded). The disaster … Continue reading Lismore City Pipe Band Flood Recovery Fund →

We're excited to be kicking off our Queensland competition season in just a few short weeks! As we prepare for bands to head back into the circle, the safety of our community is our highest priority. Players and supporters who plan to attend competitions this season should be aware that our events are often held … Continue reading COVID-19 Vaccine Message →

Pipe Bands Queensland is eager for your feedback! We're running a survey to assess the needs of ALL pipe bands across Queensland – including registered bands AND the many non-registered community bands that operate throughout the state. The information we collect as part of this survey will be used to help plan activities, services, education … Continue reading We want to hear from you! →

World champion piper and founder of the world's biggest online bagpipe school the Piper's Dojo, Andrew Douglas, recently announced the release of his new book, called Finding Bagpipe Freedom. Douglas co-authored the book with Queensland's Camille Layt (President and Pipe Sergeant of the Brisbane Pipe Band) over the course of the last year. Jim McGillivray, … Continue reading Finding Bagpipe Freedom: new book from Queensland piper and Andrew Douglas from the Piper’s Dojo →

Unfortunately, Tartan Day celebrations in Brisbane for 2021 – due to have been held on 24 July – have been cancelled. Brisbane International Tartan Day president Ian Campbell issued a statement on Thursday 4 March 2021 to advise that the Australian Scottish Community Qld Inc was unsuccessful in obtaining the extra grant, putting them in … Continue reading Brisbane Tartan Day 2021 cancelled →

The Queensland Premier announced on Tuesday 23 February that Anzac Day services in Queensland could proceed in 2021. Pipe Bands Queensland is delighted at the news that our bands will be able to contribute to RSL services in many communities across the state, and we encourage all of our members to be in touch with … Continue reading Anzac Day 2021 →

COVID-19 has had a massive impact on pipe band activities around the world, but one beneficial result for players has been the increase in online competition opportunities. Associations, bands and groups all over the world have been running more online competitions while their regions are in lockdown, giving international competitors unprecedented access to world-class judging … Continue reading Upcoming online competitions (list) →

The latest edition of Scots News magazine is packed with stories, events and prize giveaways. From the editor: "It's been an interesting lead up to getting this issue produced, with the uncertainty and changing conditions towards events due to the pandemic, and another skin cancer operation on my face that had me sidelined without my … Continue reading Scots News Magazine: February / March edition out now →

The Christmas edition of Scots News magazine is packed with stories, events and prize giveaways. The magazine's editor, Carmel Audsley, is always keen for stories about pipe bands, too, so if you have a story to share (or upcoming events to promote), make sure you get in touch via scotsnews@iinet.net.au. View the December 2020 / … Continue reading Scots News Magazine: Dec/Jan edition out now →

The November 2020 issue of Gone Piping eMagazine is now freely available for download. This issue features: Memorizing Music Better and FasterThe history behind "The piper's warning to his master"Appropriate footwearReview of Gannaway bagsReviews of solo chantersPiping contests before the Great War. Visit the School of Piping website to download a free copy.

The University of Glasgow in Scotland has invited pipers from around the world to participate in a unique, virtual and global celebration of Burns Night in January 2021. The University’s Centre for Robert Burns Studies has invited over 2000 international Scottish societies, pipe bands, Burns clubs, and Scottish dance groups to participate in the initiative, … Continue reading 2021 Virtual Burns Night →

Pipe Bands Australia are championing a musical tribute on 15 August 2020 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Known as 'VP75 – Our Piping Tribute', the project requires players to register; learn a tune called 'VP 75 – Lest We Forget', which has been composed by Mark Saul specifically … Continue reading VP75 – Our Piping Tribute →

The following appointments have been made in accordance with the Rules of Pipe Bands Australia. National Secretary: Dr John Ralph John has been playing for more than 30 years and for the past 22 years has been pipe major of St Andrews Caledonian, Launceston, guesting with bands in several states and competing and performing overseas … Continue reading National officer appointments announced →

This article was originally posted on Pipe Bands Australia on 7 May 2020. Enrolment for Pipe Bands Australia’s Australian Pipe Band College examination can now be lodged online. The online enrolment links have been added to the national website on the education and training pages for piping, drumming, drill and dress, and rules and administration. … Continue reading Examination enrolment now available online →

Pipe Bands Australia have announced the resignations of: National Secretary Steve PattersonNation Principal Rules and Administration Jamie ForsythNational Committee Member James Cowie The announcement (download PDF copy) reads: 3 June 2020 Gratitude and appreciation for national service Pipe Bands Australia acknowledges with gratitude the contribution of three highly valued members who have stepped down from … Continue reading Resignation of National Officers →

Fraser Martin has released the second edition of his Bagpipe Music Book, now available in digital format for free from his website. Fraser is a renowned piper all over the world, and is well known to many in the Queensland community. He describes himself as "a musician who, from time to time, plays bagpipes in … Continue reading Fraser Martin – 2nd edition of Bagpipe Music Book out now →

Chris Gray – acclaimed piper and composer, former Scots College tutor, and previous Queensland competition judge and recitalist – has launched his new self-titled album. The album features highland pipes, whistles and piano performances, with all original compositions rooted in the tradition of folk music. It also features the talents of Innes White (acoustic guitar), … Continue reading Chris Gray – new album out now →

Applications for the 2020 Peter Cook Scholarship – which assists in the encouragement and advancement of pipers – are now open, and will close on 30 June.  The scholarship was established last year with the bequest from Peter’s estate and is jointly administered by Pipe Bands Australia and Victorian Highland Pipe Band Association. Awards totalling … Continue reading Applications open – Peter Cook Scholarship →

Congratulations to Queensland piper Aidan Scott, who won the overall Grade 3 Piping title in 2020 World Online Piping & Drumming Championships. Queensland piper, Aidan Scott Aidan is the Pipe Sergeant of the Brisbane Boys College Pipe Band and tutored by Andrew Roach.Congratulations too to Queensland pipers and drummers who placed among 1650 entrants from … Continue reading Queensland Piper a World Champion →

ANZAC Day is fast approaching. Due to the current social distancing measures that are in place, ANZAC Day memorials and parades have been cancelled across the country. However, this will not stop pipers, drummers, and the pipe band community from continuing our long-standing tradition of paying respects to all those who have served. Pipe Bands … Continue reading ANZAC Day 2020 →

The current schedule of events for the 2020 Queensland pipe band season is now officially cancelled. Pipe Bands Queensland's committee has been working closely with event organisers, local councils, and organising bands to discuss potential options for postponed events this year, noting that any dates are dependent on whether Federal Government enforcements remain in place … Continue reading 2020 Queensland Season Cancelled →

Pipe Bands Queensland wishes to express our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and bandmates of Bob Semple OAM BEM – Pipe Bands Australia chieftain, piper, long-serving drum major to Hawthorn Pipe Band, and titan of the Australian pipe band movement. Bob was a treasured part of our national pipe band community, and we were … Continue reading Vale RJK (Bob) Semple OAM BEM →

Hot on the heels of its extremely successful participation in the biggest ever Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Sydney in October, the Warwick Thistle Pipe Band has been given yet another amazing opportunity: it has been invited to travel to Russia in April–May 2020 to participate in the two-week long Peace for World Festival. The … Continue reading Warwick Thistle headed to Moscow →

Producers from popular TV show Australia's Got Talent have reached out to Pipe Bands Queensland specifically seeking exciting acts to showcase their talent on live TV. They are currently on the hunt for more amazingly talented and diverse performers to take to the AGT stage once again! After it’s highly successful re-launch, Australia’s Got Talent will be coming … Continue reading Australia’s Got Talent seeks pipers and bands for next season →