My name is Chris Armstrong and I have been a member of ScottishPower Pipe Band since 2006. Since joining the band as Pipe Major, it has been my privilege to lead the band at a number of exciting and prestigious engagements where the band has had the opportunity to promote the ScottishPower brand and more recently the ScottishPower Foundation.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of ScottishPower’s and laterly, the ScottishPower Foundation’s sponsorship of the band, one of the longest running sponsorships in the pipe band world. The band is extremely proud and very grateful for this support as this allows us to continue to be one of the best bands in the World.
Being a Grade 1 Pipe Band, there is an amazing amount of talent within the band, however we know that this is also the case when it comes to the bands we are competing against, so the members of the band are put through their paces on a weekly basis when we spend at least 4 hours every week rehearsing and perfecting our craft. These rehearsals take place in the Staff Restaurant at ScottishPower’s Cathcart office.
Every Piper and Drummer’s goal is to be the best and our ambition as a group is to appear on the prize list at the Championships on the Pipe Band calendar. The main competition season runs from May through to August and whilst there are competitions running out-with this period, the five major Championships are the British, European, Scottish, Cowal and World Championships.
Currently ranked number three in the World, but with the top slot being our ultimate goal, both myself and the band are determined to give the other Grade 1 bands a run for their money this season.
I would like to highlight some of the milestones we have achieved so far:
1) Energy Concert 2011
In 2011 we were honoured and delighted to ‘take stage’ at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall for what is undoubtedly the most prestigious concert on the pipe band calendar. Excited about making our debut appearance in this sold out pre ‘Worlds’ concert, our aim was to offer something for everyone whilst showcasing the talent on the stage that night.
2) The East Lothian Pipes and Drums Trust
The East Lothian Pipes and Drums Trust (ELPDT) was set up to give young people in East Lothian the opportunity to learn the Pipes and Drums. When asked to get involved, myself and members of ScottishPower Pipe Band were delighted to run a number of workshops for the Trust which culminated in the young people attending a ScottishPower Pipe Band practice, giving them the chance to hear for themselves what the instructors of the Trust are trying to achieve.
3) Race for Life
With ScottishPower being the official Energy Partner of CRUK and a sponsor of the Race for Life events, the band has literally “played” their part in helping to raise money for this worthy charity. Having played at events throughout the UK, we would hope that the sound of the pipes has spurred the runners and walkers on and in some cases it may even have made them run faster!!
Click here to view the embedded video.
4) Concerts in Spain
In 2012 Iberdrola asked the band to put on a concert in the Galicia region of Spain. During this visit, the band was twinned with the Real Banda de Gaitas who then joined the ScottishPower Pipe band on stage for the concert. The band returned in 2013 to perform at the Pilgrims Mass in the Cathedral in Santiago, something which was a huge honour for the band. Later that evening the band was joined on stage by The Real Banda de Gaitas and the two bands joined together to perform some traditional Scottish and Galician tunes for the audience.
The band’s calendar is always extremely busy, between competing at Championships, working within the community, running workshops for school Pipe Bands and performing at events on behalf of both the ScottishPower Foundation and ScottishPower, something every member of the band is 110% committed to.
