City of Blacktown Pipe Band
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article or section is missing citations or needs footnotes. Using inline citations helps guard against copyright violations and factual inaccuracies. (April 2008) |
|
|
|
| Established | 1975
|
|---|---|
| Location | Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia
|
| Grade | 1,3 and 4
|
| Pipe Major | Ainsley Hart
|
| Drum Sergeant | Keith Tombs
|
| Tartan | Oliphant Melvile
|
| Website | www.blacktownpipeband.com |
The City of Blacktown Pipe Band is a grade one pipe band based in Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia.
The band's Pipe Major is Ainsley Hart; Drum Sergeant is Keith Tombs.
[edit] Band History
The City of Blacktown Pipe Band was formed in 1975 and known initially as the St Johns Ambulance Pipe Band, because of its close association with that movement. The band quickly rose 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. Competing initially in Grade 4, Blacktown #2 was soon graded up, and currently competes in the upper levels of Grade 3 (Grade 3A internationally) The No.2 band has done exceedingly well in competition over the past 25 years including wins at the Palmerston North Square Day Competition in 2005 and a very competitive performance in Grade 3A of the 2006 World Pipe Band Championships on Glasgow Green.
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 youth training and competition 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 rewarding 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.
Due to rapidly growing numbers of young players, a No 3 Band was formed in 1990 and all three bands now perform regularly at civic and ceremonial functions and parades as well as up to eight competitions per year. The Band regards itself as a competition oriented pipe band and provides in-house tuition for pipers and drummers of widely ranging age and experience levels
In 2007 the Band saw the departure of long serving Pipe Major Barry Grey, who is widely credited with providing much of the expertise and impetus which established Blacktown amongst the very best Pipe Band organisations in the World. Incoming Pipe Major is the Bands former Pipe Sergeant Ainsley Hart who still competes regularly as a solo piper at the highest levels all over the world including Scotland in 2006 and again 2007.
[edit] 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.
