General Information
Our band has been active in the Blue Mountains for many years, and has a
strong ethic of supporting local events through the support of community
and charity occasions, as well as through catering for private functions.
The Blue Mountains Pipe Band fosters the growth and development of the
highland bagpipes and drums, following age old traditions with pride and
proudly passing these traditions and skills onto new generations of
learners and enthusiasts. We delight in performing at any manner of event,
and our flexibility in catering to the needs of each individual event is
second to none.
Our members span an age range of more than forty years, and we are proud
to include among our ranks some of the most accomplished and experienced
pipers and drummers in Australia. Our achievements in the competitive
arena attest to our skill and professionalism, and our grant from the Blue
Mountains City Council is testament to the level of involvement we have in
the local community.
We are able to design a performance for any type of event. Our members are
experienced in performing at all manner of community and cultural events
including street parades, sporting activities, church functions and
charity events. We attend every event in traditional dress, with
impeccable attention to detail and presentation. The music selection is
chosen specifically for each individual event, and all reasonable requests
are happily catered for.
Ensuring that the traditions of the Pipe Band are carried on by future
generations is of great importance to the band, and to this end we have
established a tuition program which encourages new learners and
experienced players alike to draw on the combined skills of our band
members and benefit from our knowledge in a warm and nurturing family
environment.
We thank you for taking the time to get to know the Blue Mountains Pipe
Band a little better.
Band History
The Blue Mountains Pipe Band was formed in 1990 under Pipe Major Malcolm
Stewart, who lead the band proudly through several years of hard work
and encouraged the loyal support of community events throughout the
mountains which remains a strong part of the band’s ethic to this day.
Pipe Major Stewart also lead the band into its’ first competition at the
Appin Highland Games in 1996, where the band placed 3rd in Grade 4 and
began an impressive record of achievement on the competitive field.
Glenbrook Spring Festival - Early 1990's
Following Pipe Major Stewart’s resignation from the band in 1997 it
struggled to maintain membership and activity levels but was
determinedly held together by Michael Brownlee in the role of Pipe Major
until the appointment of Pipe Major Gordon Maxwell in 1999, who led the
band to rebuild and return to the public arena stronger than ever.
In 2002 the band was fortunate to gain the skills and expertise of
renowned Piper June McLeish who is considered one of the most
accomplished female Pipers and adjudicators in this country. With new
inspiration and the guidance, the band experienced a new period of
growth, and subsequently launched a new assault on the competition
field. The appointment of Mal Ridgley as Drum Sergeant in 2004 ensured
that the band was now lead by a team with many years of top level
international experience, and was filled with the determination to
continue the proud traditions of Pipe Bands with the highest levels of
skill and professionalism.
The Blue Mountains Pipe Band is once again a regular feature at
community events throughout the mountains, and a strong contender in the
competitive arena. The band wears the Ancient Douglas Tartan: its’
vibrant blues and greens corresponding with the natural beauty and
unique surroundings of the Blue Mountains.
