City of Blacktown Pipe Band
Encyclopedia
The City of Blacktown Pipe Band is a multi-grade pipe band
made up of 53 players in two competition bands in Grade 1 (Blacktown Pipe Band #1) and Grade 4 (Blacktown Pipe Band #2) the latter functioning as its development band. It is based in Blacktown, New South Wales
, Australia
.
The band's Pipe Major
is Ainsley Hart; Drum Sergeant is Keith Tombs.
The following year the band once again contested the Grade 2 Australian Championships and successfully gained 1st Place. At the conclusion of that season the band was re-graded to Grade 1 and has since contested over 160 Grade 1 competitions in Australia, New Zealand and Scotland.
1982 saw the formation of a No 2 band to accommodate the growing numbers of junior and other members. The City of Blacktown Pipe Band #2 has also competed successfully in Grade 3A at the 2006 World Pipe Band Championships on Glasgow Green
, numerous local contest wins and places and a great win at the 2005 Square Day Competition in Palmerston North.
Whilst the Band relies primarily upon its own activities to provide operational funding, in 1985 there was a change of name to the City of Blacktown Pipe Band following agreement by The City of Blacktown Council to support the band in its training and development activities, the provision of a permanent home at Blacktown Showground close to Blacktown Station, and with periodic assistance towards the cost of replacement of musical instruments. This proved to be a very successful and durable partnership and the ongoing support of the Blacktown community continues to support and encourage the Band's successful growth.
Since becoming the City of Blacktown Pipe Band, the band has won the NSW State Pipe Band Championships, East Coast of Australia Championships and the No.2 Band has gained 2nd place in the Australian Grade 4 Championships twice. In 1990, the No.2 band won the drumming event at the Australian Championships.
New Zealand 1988, Christchurch 1992, Palmerston North 2004, 2005 and 2006.
The band has toured Europe including Scotland where both the No.1 & No.2 bands competed in Grade 1 & Grade 4 at the World Pipe Band Championships in 1992, 1995 and 1998.
The Band returned to Scotland in 2006, this time with a touring contingent of over 70 players fielding three competition Bands in Grades 1, 3A and 4. Scotland competitions in 2006 included the European Championships in Gourock, Callander, North Berwick, Bridge of Allan, The World Pipe Band Championships, and Perth.
Pipe band
A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The term used by military pipe bands, pipes and drums, is also common....
made up of 53 players in two competition bands in Grade 1 (Blacktown Pipe Band #1) and Grade 4 (Blacktown Pipe Band #2) the latter functioning as its development band. It is based in Blacktown, New South Wales
Blacktown, New South Wales
Blacktown is a suburb in the City of Blacktown, in Western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Blacktown is located 34 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of City of Blacktown.Blacktown is the largest...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
The band's Pipe Major
Pipe Major
The Pipe Major is the director of bagpipe music in a Scottish or Irish pipe band. Like Drum Major, the position of Pipe Major is derived from British Army traditions. During the early twentieth century, the term Sergeant Piper was used for the role in place of "Pipe Major".Civillian and military...
is Ainsley Hart; Drum Sergeant is Keith Tombs.
Band history
The City of Blacktown Pipe Band was formed in 1975 and rose quickly to prominence in the competition arena and in 1978, placed 3rd in the Grade 2 Australian Pipe Band Championships. Two years later at the next Australian Championships the band came 2nd, with a first in piping and drumming.The following year the band once again contested the Grade 2 Australian Championships and successfully gained 1st Place. At the conclusion of that season the band was re-graded to Grade 1 and has since contested over 160 Grade 1 competitions in Australia, New Zealand and Scotland.
1982 saw the formation of a No 2 band to accommodate the growing numbers of junior and other members. The City of Blacktown Pipe Band #2 has also competed successfully in Grade 3A at the 2006 World Pipe Band Championships on Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green is a park situated in the east end of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde. It is the oldest park in the city dating back to the 15th century.In 1450, King James II granted the land to Bishop William Turnbull and the people of Glasgow...
, numerous local contest wins and places and a great win at the 2005 Square Day Competition in Palmerston North.
Whilst the Band relies primarily upon its own activities to provide operational funding, in 1985 there was a change of name to the City of Blacktown Pipe Band following agreement by The City of Blacktown Council to support the band in its training and development activities, the provision of a permanent home at Blacktown Showground close to Blacktown Station, and with periodic assistance towards the cost of replacement of musical instruments. This proved to be a very successful and durable partnership and the ongoing support of the Blacktown community continues to support and encourage the Band's successful growth.
Since becoming the City of Blacktown Pipe Band, the band has won the NSW State Pipe Band Championships, East Coast of Australia Championships and the No.2 Band has gained 2nd place in the Australian Grade 4 Championships twice. In 1990, the No.2 band won the drumming event at the Australian Championships.
International Contests
Indonesia in 1983, 1989 and 2007.New Zealand 1988, Christchurch 1992, Palmerston North 2004, 2005 and 2006.
The band has toured Europe including Scotland where both the No.1 & No.2 bands competed in Grade 1 & Grade 4 at the World Pipe Band Championships in 1992, 1995 and 1998.
The Band returned to Scotland in 2006, this time with a touring contingent of over 70 players fielding three competition Bands in Grades 1, 3A and 4. Scotland competitions in 2006 included the European Championships in Gourock, Callander, North Berwick, Bridge of Allan, The World Pipe Band Championships, and Perth.