Congratulations to Dunoon Grammar School Pipe Band who has been nominated in Scottish Pipe Band of the Year sponged by National Piping Centre in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2024. Vote for Dunoon Grammar School Pipe Band now!. It’s going to be another great night at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards on Saturday 30th November in Inverness Leisure. Why not join us for a brilliant night of music and awards. Buy a ticket here.
We asked Donald of Dunoon Grammar School Pipe Band the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
Dunoon Grammar School is one of the oldest learning institutions in Scotland with records dating back to 1641, so the school itself has been a big part of the Cowal peninsula community for nearly 400 years. Mr Neil Campbell started Dunoon Grammar School Pipe band in 1973 from mostly pipers from the Strachur area (19 miles from the School) and surrounding communities. This development grew and the band slowly evolved into a band representing the school with strong ties to the community. After Mr Neil Campbell started the band, Dunoon Grammar School were lucky enough to have Annie Grant (former Yamaha Music Teacher of the Year (2001) and Balvenie Medal recipient (2005)), Craig Campbell (former pipe major of the Glasgow Skye) and then Craig Wilson. Covid, like with many other bands and community represented groups – hit the band especially hard. No pipe band activity occurring during the Covid spells and the piping tutor at DGS and surrounding primary schools retired after 29 years’ service. We were lucky enough to have the placement of well-known piper, Gold Medallist, adjudicator, assessor and teacher Donald MacPhee as the school’s piping tutor. Sadly, the Local Council only gives Donald one day to teach at the school – but he tries to make up for it with his knowledge and enthusiasm. With Donald the drum section are led by former DGS graduate and well know snare drummer Bobby Davie.
Dunoon Grammar School pipe band is the biggest band that represents the school. Last year the band competed in 5 competitions, but, most importantly, played over 37 outings throughout the Cowal area at parades and elderly care homes. The band also performed at events where the local community come together, such as The Sunset Ceremony (which kicks off the events leading up to The World Famous Cowal Highland Gathering), Remembrance activities, local halls and local community anniversary events.
Last year Dunoon Grammar School won the World’s Best School Prize award for Community Collaboration from T4 Education. Also awarded to Dunoon Grammar School was the JA Europe Entrepreneurial School of the year – again, the first Scottish school to be awarded this prestigious honour from Europe. For both of these awards, the Dunoon Grammar School Pipe Band played an incredibly active role throughout both of those accolade journey’s, including videos and school visits, and the band was so incredibly proud to have such an active role in these achievements . Also last year we had our 50th year reunion concert. We had members from the very first school band and throughout all of the bands and time periods. It was really a special event with more than 55 pipers and drummers playing the tune “My Land” at the reunion concert. The school received tremendous feedback from all of the former members who attended and took in the concert on the night . Some of these former members travelled long distances to attend the reunion.
Dunoon Grammar School was also the first Scottish School to present at World Education Week. Subsequently delivering sessions three years in a row. The only school globally to do so. The pipe band performed as part of these live session broadcast across the globe – giving the sessions a distinctly Scottish flavour – which was extremely well received by the world-wide audience.
The band are improving and most important planning to attend and represent Dunoon and Scotland at Tartan Day 2026 in New York City
Why are you involved in Scottish music?
The Dunoon Grammar School Pipe Band celebrated is 50th anniversary in 2023. We continue to strive to give our students the confidence and personal growth through or Scottish heritage and culture in traditional Scottish music. We have seen and continue to see the impact in learning a musical instrument and what a positive effect it has when our students continue to pipe and play the drums much beyond then just their years at the school.
Any particular career highlights?
The band were Scottish , British, European and Juvenile World Champions in 1999 as well as RSPBA Juvenile Champion of Champions in 1999
As stated having 55 former members attend and play a tune at the 50th anniversary reunion and concert was incredibly special
What are your plans for the future?
Continue the active role that we have in our community . Continue to develop our members for continued success in SQA music awards . Carry on in cultivating our traditional Scottish music and dance with our young people. Work on our current goal and project for the band to attend and play a part in Tartan Day 2026 activities in New York City.
Dunoon Grammar School Pipe Band Social Media
Website:
Facebook: @Dunoon Grammar School Pipe Band
Twitter: @
Instagram: @
YouTube: @
TikTok: @
The 2024 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards are on the 30th November 2024 in Inverness Leisure Centre! You will be able to watch it live in person (buy a ticket here). Watch it live in the UK at 9pm (GMT) on BBC ALBA and and around the world here. Bands performing on Saturday 30th November include Julie Fowlis, Skipinnish, Laura Wilkie and Ian Carr, Highland Young Musicians and Arc Fiddlers, An Dannsa Dub, BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award winner 2024 Calum McIlroy and more!
If you would like to support Hands Up for Trad in their work with Scottish trad music and musicians why not become a friend of Hands Up for Trad. In addition to our high profile events like the Scots Trad Music Awards, we also deliver a less well known, education programme for young people from 8yrs right through to young adults at the start of their careers. Read more here.
