Performance & Competitions

All pipe bands at Preston Lodge perform at events in school, in the community, and further afield in Scotland and sometimes abroad.  The novice and juvenile bands also take part in local, regional and national competitions.

Performances

All bands perform at local events such as Preston Lodge Summer and Christmas concerts, local galas and a variety of community and charity events. Every year a band plays  at Queen Margaret University’s graduation at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh.

The band also organises one trip abroad every year. These trips incur a cost to the pupils and are not compulsory. The band has recently enjoyed trips to China, Belgium and Germany. You can read about our 2017 trip to Nanning, China, here.

Competitions

The novice and juvenile bands take part in various competitions from March through to September. Competitions include local branch contests such as Dunbar and North Berwick, invitational competitions at George Watson’s College and major championships including the World Pipe Band Championships which is held in Glasgow.

All dates and locations are subject to change on a yearly basis but preparation and planning starts roughly a year ahead of the competition. The band provide a bus to and from competitions out with the local area and this is free for all playing members of the band.

Competitions always take place at the weekend and we update our Calendar page and social media accounts with all details on a regular basis.

SOLO COMPETITIONS

There are opportunities for pupils to take part in solo competitions throughout the year. These are usually indoor competitions and happen out with the main pipe band season. We also run our own solo competition which is confined to East Lothian pupils which we plan to hold in November each year.

The solo competitions we regularly participate in are:

  • George Watson’s College Solo and Pipe Band Competition (March)
  • Glasgow Highland Club Competition (March)
  • Lothian and Borders Branch Solos and Pipe Band Competition (March/April)
  • World Solo Drumming Championships (October)
  • East Lothian Solo Piping and Drumming Competition (November)