The Vienna Pipes and Drums band have had a busy summer, and despite the soaring temperatures we have been donning our kilts and playing traditional Scottish bagpipe music at a wide range of events.
On Saturday 9th September we were were proud to be the first-ever Austrian pipe band to compete at the annual Belgian Pipe Band Championships, part of the Scottish Weekend in Alden Biesen. The “Schots Weekend” has been running since 1986, and has on occasion hosted the European Bagpipe Championships. The band competed in Grade 4 (March), Grade 3 (MSR), and Open Grade (Medley), playing in fierce sunshine and temperatures of nearly 30 degrees! The standard of the northern European bands is high, and we were lucky to play against some very talented pipe bands. While we did not bring home any prizes this year, we were satisfied with our performance and we received positive feedback from the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association judges.
Earlier in the year were proud to play at Coronation celebrations for King Charles III at the UK Embassies in Vienna and Bratislava, the annual IAEA ball in the Vienna Hofburg, the Vienna St. Patrick’s Day parade, our own Burns Night fundraiser, and at a number of birthdays, weddings, and other private events. Together with friends from the Salzburg Rampant Lion Pipe Band we held a fantastic teaching workshop with world-class piper and composer Ross Ainslie.
Before the year is out we will be playing at our annual Whisky Tasting Fundraiser on the 2nd December.
The Band Teaching Programme for new pipers and drummers has been going from strength to strength. If you are interested in learning the Great Highland Bagpipe or Scottish drumming, please contact us!