High Life Highland’s Youth Pipe Band and folk band ‘Beira’ have just returned from this year’s Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships, proudly representing the region at the world’s largest schools piping event.
Held at Kilmarnock’s William McIlvanney Campus at the weekend (Sunday 9 March), the Championships saw 94 bands compete across eight categories. The High Life Highland Youth Pipe Band delivered a standout performance in the Junior B category, coming 2nd overall with the drummers picking up a 1st place in a highly competitive field.
Folk band ‘Beira’, although not placed in the Freestyle category, received hugely positive comments from the judges.
Norman Bolton, Head of Music Development at High Life Highland is full of praise for the young musicians: “What an amazing achievement for the High Life Highland Youth Pipe Band, especially when you consider that this was the only band out of 94 that cannot meet in person every week to practice as a group, unlike all the individual school entries.
“Beira also gave a stunning performance and we are very proud of the way they presented themselves and the musical standard of their performance. Regardless of the results, simply taking part in such a prestigious competition has been an incredible experience for pupils and tutors alike.”
The Championships, organised by the Scottish Schools Pipes and Drums Trust (SSPDT), continue to highlight how piping and drumming are becoming more accessible in Scottish schools. The Trust currently supports young musicians and schools across 27 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities, expanding access to piping and drumming nationwide.
Lindsay MacKenzie, CEO of SSPDT, praised the event’s participants: “The Championships are about more than competition – they are a celebration of the teamwork, dedication and passion that school pipe bands bring to their performances. It’s inspiring to see so many young musicians, including those from the Highlands making the most of this opportunity.”
The 2025 Championships were made possible through generous sponsorship, with support from Wallace Bagpipes (Junior C competition), The Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust (Freestyle category), the William Grant Foundation and The Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo, creating more opportunities for young musicians on the national stage.
