Scottish experience to boost Highland Gathering on new September 2024 date

The Scots School Albury Highland Gathering and Pipe Band competition has been moved to September 2024 after the band confirmed a five-week tour to Scotland in July to compete in a host of events, including the World Pipe Band Championships and the Scottish Pipe Band Championships, and to perform at Piping Live in Glasgow. The new date will let the Pipe Band use its Scottish experience to value-add to its traditional Highland Games and Pipe Band Competition by choreographing a slick, high-end Military Tattoo-style event in the evening. The Scots Military Tattoo will showcase the Scots Pipe Band in a format similar to the traditional Royal Edinburgh Military tattoo, including horses, dancers, brass bands and heavy athlete performances.

The Scots Highland Gathering was set to be held in March this year, but as soon as the Pipe Band’s entries were accepted for the prestigious championship events, plans for a much bigger and more spectacular event were hatched. Organisers needed a longer lead time to put all their plans into motion.

A magnificent experience

Pipe Band coordinator Scott Nicolson said it was the perfect opportunity to showcase the Pipe Band and all things Scottish to the Albury Community in a way rarely seen in the Border town. “We want to make it a day to remember so we immediately thought about moving our March date until later this year,” Nicolson said. “But even that was going to be a tight turnaround from our overseas journey in August. So, we decided to wait; plan it with precision and deliver a magnificent experience in September next year.”

The Pipe Band also has confirmed its major performance dates in July, which will be the final preparation before the band leaves for its overseas competitions. The Sounds of Scotland concert will be on Friday 14 and Saturday 15 July at 7.30pm in the Albury Entertainment Centre.

The Scots School Albury Highland Gathering and Pipe Band competition will take place on Saturday 14 September 2024. For details: 02 6022 0000.