City of Chicago signs sponsorship deal with Premier

The newest American Grade 1 band is the latest to sign a sponsorship agreement with Premier Percussion to play the English manufacturer’s instruments “for the foreseeable future,” according to City of Chicago Pipe Band Leading-Drummer Chris Barr.

The band took delivery of a complete set – 12 HTS800 snares and seven Professional series mid-section drums – finished in Autumn Cherry Lacquer with Diamond Chrome hardware.

According to Barr, the deal calls for the band and its individual players to use the instruments as a section and in solo work. Specifics of the deal are confidential, he added.

Barr, who owns and operates Barr Highland Supply, a piping and drumming equipment dealer, said that the agreement with Premier is strictly with the City of Chicago and the drum corps, and that Premier has not placed any restrictions on what he can sell.

City of Chicago was promoted to Grade 1 by the Midwest Pipe Band Association after the 2010 season. The band’s drum section had the highest overall score at the 2011 North American Championships at Maxville, Ontario, winning the drumming in the MSR.