History
The College of Piping Pipe Band’s history traces back to the Summerside Presbyterian Pipe Band which existed from 1963 to 1969, and reformed in 1986 as the Caledonian Pipe Band. In 1990, the band became affiliated with the College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts of Canada, and began to carry its name in 1993.
Based out of Summerside, Prince Edward Island, the organization boasts two competitive pipe bands. These bands compete in grades 3 and 5 and are registered with The Atlantic Canada Pipe Band Association (ACPBA). Outside of the competitive realm, the College also has a development band. Here, students can learn the fundamentals of playing in a pipe band, while honing their skills on their instrument. With a combined membership of almost 50 musicians, these two bands offer a fantastic opportunity for students of the College of Piping to compete and mature as players, while also giving them the opportunity to perform on stage in the College’s summer production, Highland Storm.
Click the link to view our 2019 College of Piping Pipe Band Handbook
Highlights
Since the band became affiliated with the College of Piping, some of its successes have included:
- 4 North American Pipe Band Championship titles: 2011 (Grade 4), 2006 (Grade 4), 1995 (Grade 3) and 1994 (Grade 3)
- 4th place in Grade 3B at the 2007 World Pipe Band Championships.
- 5th place in Grade 3B at the 2012 World Pipe Band Championships.
- 1st place in Grade 4B at the 2017 World Pipe Band Championships and World Champions for 4B.
- 2019 North American Drum Corps Champions in Grade 5 and Grade 3
Coupled with these accomplishments are numerous awards from Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario and the Western and Eastern United States. Many of the members of the College of Piping Pipe Bands are also award winning soloists, bringing home local, regional, national and international prizes for their respective grade levels.
New challenges lie ahead for all of our bands in 2020. The Grade 3 and the Grade 5 bands are travelling to compete at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. Each band has added new members to their ranks, new music is being learned and new friends are being made.
The College of Piping Pipe Bands are under the direction of Pipe Major James MacHattie, Pipe Sgt. Kylie MacHattie and Drum Sgt. Chris Coleman. The Pipe Major of the College’s Grade 5 band is Carl Brydon.
If you would like to hire the College of Piping Pipe Band for an upcoming event, or would like to make a donation to the band, please contact Chris Coleman for rates and availability.If you would like to hire the College of Piping Pipe Band for an upcoming event, or would like to make a donation to the band, please contact Chris Coleman for rates and availability.
Competitions
Each year our highland and step dancers, piping and drumming soloists and pipe bands travel to various competitions around the Maritimes, North America and the world to compete. Through the winter and spring seasons indoor competitions are held. The competitions listed below are some of the summer competitions that our students travel to.
Atlantic Canada Piobaireachd Challenge
The Greater Moncton Highland Games
Kensington Step Dance Festival
ScotDance Championship Series
Pugwash Gathering of the Clans
The New Brunswick Highland Games
The Glengarry Highland Games
The World Pipe Band Championships