pipe band
A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The term pipes and drums, used by military pipe bands is also common.
The most common form of pipe band consists of a section of pipers playing the Great Highland bagpipe, ...
Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
which was established in 1943.
The band is famous for its progress where it has moved from Grade 4, right up to its current position in the premier Grade 1.
History
Johnstone Pipe Band was founded by a former Provost of Johnstone Burgh, James Mackay, in 1943 and so wear the Blue Mackay tartan in recognition of its founder. Like most bands founded during the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, their original purpose was to march the local
Home Guard
Home guard is a title given to various military organizations at various times, with the implication of an emergency or reserve force raised for local defense.
The term "home guard" was first officially used in the American Civil War, starting ...
around the town.
The band has always regularly competed, the first record of competition was at the 1948
World Championships
A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game ...
in Glasgow in 1948. Since then, it has enjoyed success in the other grades, in 1980, the band gained the Grade 4 Champion of Champions title.
In 1994, the band was regraded and Keith A. Bowes was appointed pipe major of the band. In 1998, the band enjoyed one of its most successful years, winning around 30 trophies across many local and major competitions. This led to promotion from Grade 4A to Grade 3B.
In 2000, the band won the Cowal Championships and was soon promoted after only two seasons in Grade 3B, to Grade 3A. During this time, the band started a youth programmes to help recruitment and commitment issues within the band, so in 2004, the band was regraded back to Grade 4A to help with the development of the first of the young people involved in its youth programme. This programme grew and in 2006, the band was able to launch a Novice Juvenile pipe band for their growing youth programme. In 2007, the adult band was promoted two grades up from Grade 4A to Grade 3A and won the Scottish Championships and placed at the rest of the year's major championships. Later in the year, the band was promoted to Grade 2. In 2012, Leslie Galbraith took over the drum corps as leading drummer.
After numerous years of success, Keith A Bowes stepped down as pipe major in 2015 and was succeeded by his son Keith J Bowes. Under Keith J Bowes, the band enjoyed competitive successes once again winning the 2015 European and World Championships and the 2016 World Championships, allowing them to be promoted from Grade 2 to the prestigious Grade 1.
In late 2022, Keith J Bowes stepped down as pipe major of the band and was succeeded by Donald Mackay, a former pipe major of the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band. Keith J Bowes remains with the band as its Pipe Sergeant. Also in 2022, Leslie Galbraith stood down as leading drummer and was succeeded by Gavin Orr.
Learner's Programme
The band has a successful learner class which began in 2004 to teach piping and drumming. The class meet at the band's hall in Johnstone. As part of the classes, learners can take part in the Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board courses which aim to boost their ability. These courses are a partnership between the
National Piping Centre
The National Piping Centre is an institution in Glasgow, Scotland, dedicated to the playing of the bagpipes, to include not only the Great Highland Bagpipes, but also the Scottish smallpipes and Irish uileann pipes, as well as other tradition ...
Little information known about Pipe Majors before 1994.
* ''Keith A Bowes'' (1994 - 2014)
* ''Keith J Bowes'' (2014 - 2022)
* ''Donald Mackay'' (2022 - ''present'')
Leading Drummers
Little information known about Leading Drummers before 2012.
* ''Leslie Galbraith'' (2012 - 2022)
* ''Gavin Orr'' (2022 - ''present'')