The City of St Andrews Pipe Band promote ensemble playing of Highland bagpipes and drums in both competitive and social events. They teach the arts of piping and drumming, particularly to young people living in the local area. Currently numbering around 40 with an age range of 7 -82, all are welcome.

Lockdown meant no public performances, no income and no face-to-face practices or tuition.

In February, the St Andrews Community Trust granted funding of £1,920 for the Band’s Sustainability during COVID project. The funding enabled the Band to run on-line tuition classes and replace some equipment.

The Band ran online, in-house competitions to motivate their players and tutors helped the entrants rehearse and prepare audio and visual submissions. External judges from other pipe bands reviewed the entries, providing valuable feedback to the participants.

With a current membership of c. 40, the Band is comprised mainly of school age children who have progressed well through online tuition using the Zoom platform during the long period that the Band has been unable to practice.

Since July the Band have had permission to use the Band stand for outdoor practices and these, combined with the online lessons, has meant that the Band has made great progress in returning itself to a public performance-worthy and professional organisation.

The Band will also be running a recruitment exercise in October so that the learner base continues.   And, in support of the St Andrews town and gown ethos, they already have news of several St Andrews University students who would like to play with the band while studying and they look forward to having them on board.

“The Band is deeply indebted to the Trust for its support at a time when so many organisations are struggling to keep going in these trying times.” – Dawn Waddell, Band Manager.