Glasgow Skye closing in on Pipe-Major search; SFU on for 2015 Pre-World’s Concert

In terms of leadership opportunities, it’s one of the most plum roles out there: Pipe-Major of a thriving, ready-made Grade 2 pipe band, with an active membership, prize-winning credentials, and strong and realistic aspirations to return – for good – to Grade 1.

The Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band announced on July 2, 2014, that its popular leader Kenny MacLeod would step down after the World Championship, and the band has decided that “formal expressions of interest” should be submitted by Friday, August 22nd.

Band Treasurer Dougie Orr has said that so far “a number of potential candidates have made informal enquiries, but as the competition season comes to an end, the band have set a closing date for applicants. We want to have the new P-M appointed immediately after the World’s.”

Following the closing date for applications, the band as a whole will have a meeting on August 28th. MacLeod will not be a part of the discussion of selection process.

“We feel that it was only fair to give any potential candidate time with their existing band to complete the 2014 season prior to making any formal appointment. However, equally, we need to have a new appointment made at the earliest opportunity for the benefit of the band and its members,” Orr added.

Orr, who works as a human resources professional, provided a description of the ideal candidate for the prestigious and demanding role: “A dynamic individual who has the vision and drive to take the band forward to the top of our grade and beyond. The job involves building on the existing team and motivating people to contribute fully to help achieve the band aims. Although it would be good to have someone with a track record, it is also essential that the person can ‘fit in’ and utilize the resources of the band to best effect.”

Expressions of interest should be made directly to Dougie Orr via email.

The Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band was established in 1968, and has competed in the top grades throughout its existence, including several stints in Grade 1 under MacLeod’s direction. The group is also well known for putting on the annual “Pre-World’s Concert” at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, which this year features the Great Glasgow Police Scotland Pipe Band.

Orr also disclosed that tickets for the “Ceolry” concert are selling well, and compared sales to that of the 2012 Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band concert, which turned into a near-sellout. He said that , in addition to keyboard player Mick MacNeil and singer Rachel Walker, the show will feature musicians Ewan Robertson on guitar, Allan Henderson on keyboards, and James Lyndsay on double-bass.

Orr also said that the 2015 concert will be mounted by the Grade 1 Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, the fourth time that SFU will have taken the prestigious Pre-World’s stage since the early-1990s.