Glengarry Pipe Band
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| Established | 1961
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| Location | Maxville, Ontario, Canada
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| Grade | 2
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| Pipe Major | Colin Clansey
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| Drum Sergeant | Brendan Kelly
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| Tartan | Glengarry Highland Games
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| Website | www.glengarrypipeband.ca |
The Glengarry Pipe Band was formed in early 1961 and has operated continuously since that time. The original purpose of the band was to provide a local host band for the Glengarry Highland Games in Maxville, Ontario.[1]
With the arrival of Colin MacLellan as leader in 1987, the band began competing regularly in Grade 4, and was soon winning many competitions, including the North American Championship and the PPBSO Grade 4 Championship Supreme in 1987.
When the band was promoted to Grade 3, there was an obvious need to start training players at a basic level, and a second junior band was formed to compete in Grade 4. Over the years, this progressive system has graduated many players from learners to the junior band and on to the senior band.
The senior band progressed from Grade 4 (1987-88), through to Grade 3 (1989), and Grade 2, becoming Canadian, US, and North American Pipe Champions each multiple times, and taking prizes in Scottish contests (including 4th overall and 2nd in drumming at the Grade 2 World Pipe Band Championship). During this period, the junior band continued as a community and prize-winning competitive band, training many players who graduated to the senior band.
In 1997, the senior band was poised to enter Grade 1, but a combination of circumstances caused the group to fold. While the senior band dissolved, the junior band continued strongly, absorbing some members of the senior band, and continuing the Glengarry Pipe Band name. Under the leadership of Ross May, the band competed at Grade 4 and Grade 3 levels from 1997 to 2001.
Over the years the band has acted as both a community band (playing at local parades, shows, and other events) and as a competing pipe band, traveling throughout North America and to Scotland in pursuit of its goal of musical excellence.
In 2001, Colin Clansey assumed leadership of the Glengarry Pipe Band to reconstitute a senior grade competing band. Since then, the senior band has succeeded in Grade 2, winning prizes in Canada and the US, as well as at the World Pipe Band Championship in 2004.[2]
In 2006, the Glengarry Pipe Band was awarded the PPBSO (Pipers and Pipe Band Society of Ontario) Champion Supreme title for Grade 2 and also captured the aggregate championship at the Celtic Classic in Bethlehem Pennsylvania.[3]
The junior band continues under the leadership of Ross May, and has been successful at Grade 4 competitions in Ontario, New York, and Nova Scotia. In 2006, the band won prizes at several North American contests, and placed 3rd in Grade 4B at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow.[4][5]
Currently, the Glengarry Pipe Band has three groups:
- A senior band, currently playing in Grade 2, which focuses on competing in Canada, the U.S., and overseas.
- A junior band, currently competing in Grade 4, which combines competition and community activities.
- A training band at the Grade 5 level which teaches students from the Glengarry School of Piping and Drumming how to play in a band. This group does not compete every year, but always has a strong community presence at parades & local performances.
