Bands, Soloists Brace for Record-Breaking Maxville

Nearly 70 bands and more than 350 solo competitors are set to participate in the Glengarry Highland Games at Maxville, Ontario, August 1st and 2nd, in what will be, in terms of number of entrants, the largest single piping, drumming and pipe band competition in the world.

The previous record for band and soloist entries, set in 2002, will be smashed over the weekend, while combined attendance at the games and tattoo is expected to top as many as 80,000, according to sources, making revenues gained from the event allegedly the largest in the world.

The Grade 1 band competition, despite being the smallest event of the day at five entrants, ironically will be for many the most eagerly anticipated and closely watched contest. It will mark the 2003 competitive debut of the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band, and the first time that new lead drummer John Fisher competes with the band.

Pipe-Major Bill Livingstone has confirmed that his band is “definitely, positively” going to attend Maxville. The 78th Fraser Highlanders chose not compete at the first four events of the Ontario season, citing personal challenges with John Fisher.

The previous two Pipers & Pipe Band Society of Ontario (PPBSO) championships were won by the 78th Highlanders (Halifax) and the Peel Regional Police at Fort Erie and Chatham, respectively. Also competing in the Grade 1 event will be the popular City of Washington and the Toronto Police.

The 2002 North American Pipe Band Championship was won by the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band of Vancouver, which travelled the 4900 kilometers to Maxville when the event organizers hired the band to perform at the Friday night tattoo. In protest, the 78th Fraser Highlanders subscription? Just go here to complete the easy process.