Shotts calls the kids for new juvenile solo competition

At 103 years old, one might think the legendary Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band doesn’t have much time for youth, but the exact opposite is reality, as the band is planning the first annual Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Juvenile Solo Piping & Drumming Championships on Saturday, November 29th, at Calderhead High School in Shotts.

The band has partnered with the local North Lanarkshire Council, and staff and students from Calderhead High School are pitching in to help with the event.

Competitions across all aspects of piping and drumming are planned, with 10 different event categories, from beginner practice chanter and sticks and pads, to piobaireachd, to “freestyle” events, with all contests judged by established and accredited adjudicators.

According to the band, they were motivated to organize the event to “give back to the North Lanarkshire community, as well as a way of investing in juvenile piping and drumming talent in Scotland.” Many members of the current Grade 1 Shotts band teach are professional teachers and active in piping and drumming instruction.

The band has had a long-standing relation with the North Lanarkshire school system, started under long-time Pipe-Major Robert Mathieson.

The band said that the juvenile competition is “another in a list of changes brought about by the new leadership of Pipe-Major Ryan Canning.” Canning took over the role in August 2012.

“I’m really excited about the launch of the Shotts &Dykehead Caledonia Juvenile Solo Piping and Drumming Championships,” Canning said. “This is such a worthwhile project, and is something which I hope the band will continue to deliver on an annual basis. As a pipe band organization we were keen to do our part to promote worthwhile opportunities to support the development of youth piping and drumming.”

Entries are open until November 15th via the band’s website.