All bands confirmed for Virginia

The organizers of the first annual Virginia International Tattoo American Pipe Band Championship in Norfolk, Virginia, have finalized the Grade 1 and Grade 2 entrants for combined and separate competitions on April 23rd.

Previously announced were Grade 1 Inveraray & District and Police Scotland Fife from Scotland and the Peel Regional Police and Toronto Police bands from Ontario, and in Grade 2 will be Great Lakes (Michigan), MacMillan (Maryland), Midlothian Scottish (Chicago) and New York Metro.

There will Medley and MSR events for all bands combined, plus separate Medley and MSR competitions solely for Grade 2, with prizes of US$2,500, US$1,000 and US$500 for the first three places. There’s also an Open Drumming Fanfare contest with one prize of US$1,000.

The event was originally to have a total of 10 bands in the competitions, with the Ottawa Police Service Pipe Band committing but then withdrawing from the event. A Grade 2 band also had to withdraw. The Grade 1 ScottishPower Pipe Band had been confirmed in 2015, but withdrew due to other commitments, replaced by Police Scotland Fife.

Judges for the events have not yet been finalized.