Perth Diamond Jubilee Parade – save the date!

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Pipefest

Event: Perth Diamond Jubilee Parade
Date: 2 June, 2012
Online Registration Form
Registered Players List

Pipe bands are invited to join the carnival atmosphere at the Perth Diamond Jubilee Parade to be held in Perth on 2 June, 2012. This will be a fantastic day for all the family with a number of large free events throughout the day. Perth will certainly be the place to be with the Diamond Jubilee Parade, The Big Jubilee Lunch, an 8km Kilted Run, live music and a carnival atmosphere.

Bands and individual players can register can register to take part by using the online registration form.

The Diamond Jubilee Parade will march through Perth and end with a Grand Finale on the North Inch. Where a host of events are planned. The Kilted Run is a World Record attempt to beat the current record officially achieved by 1,089 participants in Perth, Ontario, on 26 June 2010. They then smashed their own record in 2011 when 1,276 people participated in the run. Kilted friends and family members are invited to take-up the challenge.

New Bagpipe App – About Time 2!

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Pipefest

The second collection of pipe tunes has recently been launched on iTunes and features 100 great pipe tunes. All sheet music is embedded within the app – so only one download is required and the tunes can be instantly displayed. The app works on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices.

Pipefest 1: iTunes link
Pipefest 2: iTunes link

The World’s First Bagpipe Sheet Music App!

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Pipefest

Pipefest 1 is the World’s first bagpipe sheet music app! With sheet music for one hundred pipe tunes in a searchable index all in one place – the app is a great resource for pipers.

Features:

A collection of one hundred traditional and popular pipe tunes.
All tunes embedded within app – no further downloading.
Tunes indexed within time signature categories.
Search function to help quickly find tunes.

Benefits:

An app relevant to pipers
Convenient way to store and index tunes
Provides useful reference resource for pipers
Easy to use when out and about

Available via iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pipefest-1

Thomas Grotrian: 1973-2011

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Pipefest

It is with great sadness that I share the news that Thomas Grotrian has passed away. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.

Thomas Grotrian was instrumental in developing the World’s biggest massed pipe band in Edinburgh, 1995. It was his vision and determination that brought thousands of pipers and drummers together to march along Princes Street to raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

It was this event that became the inspiration for Pipefest and since 1995, massed pipe band parades under the Pipefest banner have taken place in Edinburgh, New York, Chicago, the US Grand Prix, Indianapolis, Rome, Paris, Basel, Kyoto, Shanghai and Nova Scotia. Over £750,o00 has been raised for cancer charities by the players taking part and spectators along route. Highlights have included: the Millennuim Piping Festival attended by HRH Prince Charles; marching through Manhattan led by Sir Sean Connery and Mayor Bloomberg; marching under the Eiffel Tower in Paris; opening the US Grand Prix in a parade led by Sir Jackie Stewart; and Pipefest 2005 which attracted players from 32 countries.

After Pipefest 2005, Tom summed-up working on massed pipe band events: “we have had great fun”. Indeed – there are many great memories, proud moments & fun times, all thanks to Tom!

Magnus

Tom’s funeral will take place on Thursday, 11th August. Tom’s family would like to invite a number of pipers and drummers to play at the funeral. Updates will be published on this site.

If you would like to play or attend please contact:
Magnus Orr – magnus@pipefest.com

St Ninian’s Day Parade – Papal Visit

Posted on November 24, 2010 by Pipefest

Thank you to all players, marshals and flag distributors who took part in the St Ninian’s Day Parade and helped welcome Pope Benedict XVI to Scotland.

The First Minister Alex Salmond, wrote: “The Combination of pipers, drummers, historical characters and school children from St Ninian schools across Scotland – against the historic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle – was a spectacular success and created a stunning visual backdrop to the visit. .”

I very much enjoyed meeting some of the participants before the parade began and was struck by the excitement and enthusiasm of all involved. Thank you again for your contribution to the success of the day.”

His Eminence, Cardinal O’Brien wrote: “I write to thank all those who helped you during what was a wonderful event. Scotland showed its ‘best face’ quite literally to the whole world, as I learned, following on our ‘Scottish St Ninian’s Day’ when I was with the Papal entourage in England and then at a meeting of European Bishops in Zagreb in Croatia!

I hope and pray that the visit will have a lasting effect on us all in Scotland, as well on the peoples of England and Wales, and indeed Ireland, granted that the visit, and the words and actions of the Pope, were so widely broadcast.

I renew my sincere thanks to all those involved in the St Ninian’s Parade.”

St Ninian's Day - Pope Benedict XVI

First Minister, Alex Salmond greets school St Ninian School children

First Minister, Alex Salmond meets Robert Burns

For the full photo gallery please visit Flickr

Travel Expenses – Pipe Band Buses: all claims have been submitted together to the grant aid body and bands should expect payment by the end of November.