The University of Queensland Pipe Band at Emmanuel College retained its Grade 4 Champions title at the 2013 Queensland Pipe Band Championships in Ipswich at the weekend.
The band came first out of a field of 13 bands from Queensland and New South Wales, to be Queensland Grade 4 Champions for the second year in a row.
Pipe Major Andrew McCabe said the band would compete at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, in August.
“The band is excited about representing The University of Queensland, Emmanuel College and indeed the Queensland community at the World Championships,” he said.
“Learning a specialised instrument like the bagpipes takes many years of practice and for any piper or drummer in Queensland to have the opportunity to compete at the World Championships is, for many, a once in a lifetime experience.”
The band won the Queensland Pipe Band Association trophy, the Donald Mackie Trophy for best Pipe Corps, and the Best Medley Performance award in Grade 4.
The Ipswich performance continued the pipe band’s 2013 competition season success, following a third placing at the Maclean Highland Gathering in March and third at the Sunshine Coast Pipe Band Competition in May.
Band members also featured in the Queensland Solo Piping and Drumming Championships as part of the Ipswich event.
UQ Pipe Band at Emmanuel College solo competition finalists were:
• Andrew McCabe (3rd Roddy MacSween Memorial Open Piping Competition)
• Fraser Bolton (3rd A Grade March Strathspey Reel, 3rd A Grade Hornpipe and Jig, 3rd Open Piobaireachd)
• David Spotswood (2nd B Grade Snare)
• Amelia Holmes (1st C Grade Snare)
• Kat Lavercombe (2nd C Grade Snare)
• Jessica Logan (2nd B Grade Tenor)
• Matt Chalk (1st Open Tenor, 3rd Open Bass)
• Andrew Knuckey (1st Open Bass)
The band regularly performs at Emmanuel College, at UQ, and at community events and functions.
The UQ Pipe Band is under the patronage of Emmanuel College Principal, Adjunct Professor Stewart Gill.
Practice occurs every Tuesday night from 5-8.30pm at Emmanuel College. Membership is open to those not experienced in playing pipes or drums, and tuition is available from 5-6pm.
Media Contacts: Band Secretary, University of Queensland Pipe Band at Emmanuel College, Jess Logan, 0407 113 763 or j.logan@research.uq.edu.au
