Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association
Encyclopedia
The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) was founded in 1930 as a governing body to oversee pipe band
competition and to promote and encourage the development of pipe band culture throughout the world.
The RSPBA sets the rules and guidelines for pipe band contests that take place in Scotland
, administers the events themselves, coordinating adjudication, logistics and evaluation, and holds Annual General Meetings
to ensure that the rules and regulations are up to date. In addition, the RSPBA administers and coordinates the World Pipe Band Championships
, the largest and most prestigious competitive pipe band event of the year, held every August in Glasgow
. In addition to "The World's", there are four other Major Contests - Scottish, British and European Championships and Cowal Highland Gathering
, one of the oldest Highland Games on the circuit. At Branch level, there are numerous contests held at Highland Games and any venue which raises the fund to hold a contest. Bands are placed in a Grade system - from Grade 4 up to Grade 1. Competitive standards are set and maintained by the Music Board, and each branch of the RSPBA may appoint two National Council members to represent their Branch Members at the national level.
Pipe band
A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The term used by military pipe bands, pipes and drums, is also common....
competition and to promote and encourage the development of pipe band culture throughout the world.
The RSPBA sets the rules and guidelines for pipe band contests that take place in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, administers the events themselves, coordinating adjudication, logistics and evaluation, and holds Annual General Meetings
Annual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
to ensure that the rules and regulations are up to date. In addition, the RSPBA administers and coordinates the World Pipe Band Championships
World Pipe Band Championships
The World Pipe Band Championships is a pipe band competition currently held in Glasgow, Scotland every August. The event has been operating regularly since 1930, when the Scottish Pipe Band Association was formed...
, the largest and most prestigious competitive pipe band event of the year, held every August in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. In addition to "The World's", there are four other Major Contests - Scottish, British and European Championships and Cowal Highland Gathering
Cowal Highland Gathering
The Cowal Highland Gathering is an annual Highland games event held in the Scottish town of Dunoon, Argyll, over the final weekend in August.-History:...
, one of the oldest Highland Games on the circuit. At Branch level, there are numerous contests held at Highland Games and any venue which raises the fund to hold a contest. Bands are placed in a Grade system - from Grade 4 up to Grade 1. Competitive standards are set and maintained by the Music Board, and each branch of the RSPBA may appoint two National Council members to represent their Branch Members at the national level.
Associated organizations
The RSPBA has many sister organizations throughout the world. Some of these organizations include:RSPBA
- London & South of England Branch
- Lothian & Borders Branch
- North East England Branch
- North West England Branch
- Northern Ireland Branch
- North of Scotland Branch
Canada
- Alberta Society of Pipers & Drummers
- Alliance of North American Pipe Band Associations
- Atlantic Canada Pipe Band Association
- Piper's And Pipe Band Society of Ontario
- Prairie Pipe Band Association of Manitoba
- Saskatchewan Pipe Band Association
United States of America
- Alliance of North American Pipe Band Associations
- Eastern United States Pipe Band AssociationEastern United States Pipe Band AssociationThe Eastern United States Pipe Band Association is an association of pipe bands in the Eastern United States. Its function is to sanction band and solo piping, drumming, and drum major competitions in the East Coast...
- Midwest Pipe Band AssociationMidwest Pipe Band AssociationThe Midwest Pipe Band Association is an association of pipe bands in the Midwestern United States. Within its area of jurisdiction, the association includes over forty pipe bands, offers band, solo piping and drumming, and drum major competitions with sanctioned judges, and is responsible for...
- Southern United States Pipe Band AssociationSouthern United States Pipe Band AssociationThe Southern United States Pipe Band Association is an association of pipe bands from Florida. It includes 17 pipe bands and offers officially sanctioned band, solo piping and drumming, and drum major competitions at Highland Games from January to November....
- Western United States Pipe Band AssociationWestern United States Pipe Band AssociationThe Western United States Pipe Band Association is an association of pipe bands from the Western United States. It sanctions band and solo piping competitions and has a membership of over fifty bands.-History:...
External links
- Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association
- www.militarytattoo.org - Information Website