African Skye Pipe Band

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Posted : 8 November 2009

Steven St Clair-Hall is 2009 South African Champion Snare Drummer

The African Skye A Pipe Band Leading Drummer, Steven St Clair-Hall (pictured centre right with his pipers Seán Maher and Alasdair Watt), was the winner of the Open Snare Drumming event at the recent PBASA South African Solo Drumming Championships held at St Benedict's College in Bedfordview on the 17 October 2009.

It is significant to note that four drummers from the African Skye A Pipe Band finished in the top eight in the Open Snare Drumming event.

In the Junior Snare Drumming event, Jennifer Austin, a drummer in the African Skye B Pipe Band, was placed first. Seamus Lindsay, also with the African Skye B Pipe Band, was placed second overall in the Novice Snare Drumming event and first in the Novice March event.

Posted : 20 September 2009

African Skye at the 2009 South African Tattoo

The African Skye Pipe Band participated in the recent South African Tattoo at Montecasino. A successful and fun time was had by all.

Posted : 6 September 2009

African Skye at South African Tattoo Rehearsals

Rehearsals for the South African Tattoo kicked off in the Outdoor Event Venue at Montecasino this weekend. The African Skye Pipe Band are, once again, participants this year and were there going through their paces.

Posted : 30 August 2009

African Skye promote 2009 South African Tattoo

The African Skye Pipe Band participated in a promotion at Montecasino on Saturday, 29 August 2009, for the forthcoming South African Tattoo in September.

Once again this year, the African Skye Pipe Band shall be participating in this visual splendour of light, colour, movement and sound. The South African Tattoo shall take place in the Outdoor Event Venue at Montecasino. Bookings are now open at Computicket.

Posted : 30 August 2009

African Skye has best season yet

The African Skye A Pipe Band, under the leadership of Pipe Major Seán Maher (pictured right), was the runner-up in both the PBASA Champion of Champions Pipe Band and PBASA Regional Championships Pipe Band tables for Grade 2 in 2009. The Band also finished second in the South African Championships.

The African Skye A Drum Corps, under the leadership of Leading Drummer Steven St Clair-Hall (pictured left), was the winning Drum Corps in both the PBASA Champion of Champions Drum Coprs and PBASA Regional Championships Drum Corps tables for Grade 2 in 2009. Sadly, the Drum Corps only finished fourth in the South African Championships.

Unfortunately, there were only two bands competing in Grade 3 this year so, the African Skye B Pipe Band was either first or last. Although the Band had a worthy Grade 3 debut, the only title earned was that of the winning Drum Corps, under the leadership of Leading Drummer Dave Jeffrey (pictured right), in the PBASA Regional Championships Drum Corps table for Grade 3 in 2009.

Posted : 5 July 2009

African Skye beat the weather at the St Benedict's Highland Gathering

The African Skye A Pipe Band was declared the overall winner in both the Grade 2 Pipe Band and Drum Corps events at the St Benedict's Highland Gathering held at St Benedict's College, in Bedfordview, on Saturday, 4 July 2009. In Grade 3, the African Skye B Pipe Band was declared the overall winner in the Drum Corps events, making it their fourth Drum Corps title in a row. The complete results from the gathering can be viewed here.

The St Benedict's Highland Gathering was also the last gathering in the PBASA Regional Championships table. The African Skye A Drum Corps was declared the PBASA Regional Champion Grade 2 Drum Corps and, the African Skye B Drum Corps was declared the PBASA Regional Champion Grade 3 Drum Corps. Jeppe CBC Boksburg, the band tutored by members of the African Skye organisation, was declared the PBASA Regional Champion Novice Juvenile Pipe Band. The complete results for the PBASA Regional Championships can be viewed here.

Posted : 31 May 2009

African Skye B Drum Corps make it two in a row

At the De La Salle Gathering, held at De La Salle Holy Rosary College, on Saturday 30th May 2009, the African Skye B Drum Corps were declared the Champion Grade 3 Drum Corps. The complete results from the gathering can be viewed here.

Posted : 3 May 2009

A First for African Skye at the South Coast Highland Gathering

The African Skye A Pipe Band won their first ever National Championship in the Premier Grade at the South Coast Highland Gathering in Amanzimtoti this past weekend. The African Skye A Pipe Band was declared the overall winner in both the Grade 2 Pipe Band and Drum Corps events.

In Grade 3, the African Skye B Pipe Band was declared the overall winner in the Drum Corps events. Jeppe CBC Boksburg, the band tutored by members of the African Skye organisation, was declared the overall winner in the Novice Juvenile Pipe Band events. The complete results from the weekend can be viewed here.

Posted : 20 April 2009

African Skye in fine form at the Jeppe Gathering

At the Jeppe Gathering, held at Jeppe High School for Boys, over the weekend of the 18th and 19th April 2009, the African Skye A Drum Corps were declared the champion Grade 2 Drum Corps. The African Skye B Pipe Band, in their first competition in Grade 3 after being promoted from Grade 4 last season, captured the Grade 3 honours.

Members of the African Skye organisation were also well represented in the winners' lists in the solo events. In particular, four of the top six places in the Overall Open Piping were awarded to African Skye pipers. The complete results from the weekend can be viewed here.

Posted : 24 March 2009

A Canadian amongst the Cats

Bob Worrall spent the last day of his visit, to South Africa, frollicking with some wild cats at the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve in Muldersdrift. Cuddling up to the cats, but avoiding the snakes, there are more pictures of Bob and friends here.

Posted : 24 March 2009

Bob Worrall entertains

On Saturday night, 21 March, in the traditional setting of the Jeppe High School for Boys school hall, Bob Worrall entertained an eager crowd. Bob proved to be as masterful a storyteller as he is a piper, by regaling the crowd with wonderful stories about the origins of the tunes he was playing.

Bob was in fine form on the night and provided close on two hours of entertainment. The audience were privileged to hear everything from Bob's favourite six-eight marches to the big March, Strathspey and Reel sets. Included in the mix were many of Bob's own compositions including his latest hornpipe, "Last Train to Malaga".

A wonderful evening was had by all and, for those of us fortunate to be there, a grateful word of thanks to Bob for two hours of absolute bliss - we look forward to the next time.

Posted : 23 March 2009

Jeppe CBC Boksburg win on home ground

At the CBC Boksburg Gathering, held at Christian Brothers' College Boksburg on the 21st March 2009, the Jeppe CBC Boksburg Pipe Band were declared the overall winning Novice Juvenile Band and Drum Corps. The complete results are in Competition Results and pictures from the event are in the Gallery.

Posted : 18 March 2009

CBC Boksburg Gathering kicks off Novice Juvenile band season

The CBC Boksburg Gathering shall take place at the Christian Brothers College in Boksburg on Saturday, the 21st March 2009. This gathering is the first of the 2009 South African pipe band season and features Novice Juvenile bands only. There shall also be solo piping and drumming events for the young up-and-coming pipers and drummers. Bob Worrall shall, once again, be judging some of the solo piping events as well as ensemble for the band events. Please see below the programme of events for the day.

Posted : 9 March 2009

Bob Worrall - The Recital - Live in South Africa

Posted : 8 March 2009

Nixon and Hall triumph at African Skye Solos

The African Skye Solo Piping and Drumming Championships were held at Jeppe High School for Girls in Kensington, Johannesburg on the 7th March 2009.

The Overall Open Piping Champion was Angus Nixon of Richmond Avenue (pictured left) and, the Open Snare Drumming Champion was the Leading Drummer of the African Skye A Pipe Band, Steven St Clair-Hall (pictured right with Bob Worrall).

Bob Worrall judged some of the open piping events and kindly presented the prizes. The complete results are in Competition Results and pictures from the event are in the Gallery.

Posted : 5 March 2009

The African Skye Solo Piping and Drumming Championships

The African Skye Solo Piping and Drumming Championships shall take place at Jeppe High School for Girls in Kensington, Johannesburg on the 7th March 2009. Bob Worrall (pictured right), the internationally renowned adjudicator, shall be judging some of the open piping events. Please see below the programme of events for the day. The name in brackets denotes the band that the competitor plays for.

Posted : 13 January 2009

Welcome to 2009

A few days late, I know, but my computer died in October last year and it has taken a while to get back up and running again. So this is an official, late welcome to 2009 from the African Skye Pipe Band. Thank you for all your support last year and we look forward to seeing you around again this year. Information, that is available, as to what events the African Skye Pipe Band shall be participating in this year, can be found in our Gig Guide. Please check back regularly as the Guide shall be updated as and when further information becomes available.

Posted : 13 October 2008

African Skye at the PBASA Solo Drumming Championships

Steven St Clair-Hall and Mark Gouvea were placed second and third respectively in the Open Snare Drumming event at the PBASA South African Solo Drumming Championships held at St Benedict's College in Bedfordview on Saturday, 11 October 2008. Kyle MacLeod and Jennifer Austin were placed third and fifth respectively in the Junior Snare Drumming event while Seamus Lindsay finished third overall in the Novice Snare Drumming section.

Posted : 15 July 2008

A funny thing happened on the way to the start line

Pictured above is Mark Gouvea, of African Skye fame, appearing as a guest drummer with the 1 Medical Battalion B Pipe Band at the recent Natal Scottish Gathering held on the 28 June 2008 at Natal Mounted Rifles headquarters in Durban.

Posted : 9 July 2008

African Skye Pipe Band invited to inaugural South African Tattoo

The African Skye Pipe Band has been invited to participate in the Massed Pipes and Drums display at the inaugral South African Tattoo. The Tattoo shall take place in the Outdoor Event Venue at Montecasino in September this year. Bookings are now open at Computicket.

Posted : 8 July 2008

African Skye B are declared Grade 4 PBASA Regional Champions

The African Skye B Pipe Band won the Grade 4 division at the St Benedict's Gathering on Saturday, 5 July 2008. The band was also declared PBASA Regional Champion Grade 4 Band and Drum Corps. Well done to Pipe Major Angus Bellingan, Leading Drummer Dave Jeffrey and the rest of the team on this superb achievement.

Posted : 18 June 2008

Jennifer wins PBASA Junior Solo Drumming Invitational

Jennifer Austin (pictured right with Angus Bellingan and Muire Lindsay) won the Junior section of the PBASA Solo Drumming Invitational at St Benedict's College in Bedfordview on Sunday, 15 March 2008. John Scullion of Northern Ireland adjudicated the event. Other African Skye drummers who were invited to compete and played, were Kyle MacLeod, also in the Junior, and Steven St Clair-Hall and Mark Gouvea in the Open.

Posted : 18 June 2008

African Skye B maintains winning streak

The African Skye B Pipe Band maintained it's winning streak at the Pretoria Boys Highland Gathering on Saturday, 14 June 2008, taking home both the champion Grade 4 Band and Drum Corps prizes.

Posted : 18 May 2008

Taryn Leads the Way

History was made at the Jeppe Gathering at Jeppe High School for Boys on Saturday, 17 May 2008, when Taryn Townsend (pictured right) became the first female drummer to lead a Drum Corps, African Skye A, in the Premier South African pipe band division. Although female drummers have been part of the South African pipe band fraternity for many years now, it is the first time that a female drummer has actually led a drum corps onto the competition field in the Premier grade in South Africa.

Posted : 13 May 2008

The Parlotones DVD Concert

Last Thursday, 8 May 2008, the Parlotones performed live at Emperor's Palace. The show was recorded for a live DVD. One of the guest artists was our very own Steve Buchanan. Click here, Parlotones Live, to see some pictures of Uncle Buc in action.

Posted : 2 March 2008

The African Skye Solo Piping and Drumming Championships

The African Skye Solo Piping and Drumming Championships were held at St Benedict's College in Bedfordview, Johannesburg on the 1st March 2008. The Overall Open Piping Champion was Joshua Hogg and, the Open Snare Drumming Champion was Steven St Clair-Hall. Bob Worrall (pictured right), the internationally renowned adjudicator, judged some of the open piping events. The complete results are in Competition Results and pictures from the event are in the Gallery.

Posted : 10 January 2008

Our CD is now also available online at loot.co.za. Please click on the link below to purchase.

Posted : 8 January 2008

2008 has arrived and, with it, the 10th Anniversary of The African Skye Pipe Band. From humble beginnings in January 1998, the African Skye organisation has grown to a membership of some 50 people over the last ten years. From learner musicians right through to premier grade players, we cater for them all. We have a band competing in the premier grade in South Africa, Grade 2, and a band in Grade 4. Members of the band are also involved in the tuition of the Jeppe CBC Boksburg Pipe Band which competes in the Novice Juvenile grade. We also run a piping and drumming school which has been largely responsible for the growth in our membership over the years.

Piobaireachd has always been an aspect of piping that has been lacking in the African Skye organisation. However, that is all about to change. Chris Terry, a local piobaireachd specialist, is currently running a piobaireachd school at the African Skye bandroom for pipers from the band. This will be one of many piobaireachd schools that our pipers will be involved in this year, setting the foundation for years to come.

For the first time this year, the African Skye organisation will host a solo piping and drumming competition. This will take place in Johannesburg on the 1 March as "The African Skye Solo Piping and Drumming Championship". We are hoping it will become an annual event in the local piping and drumming calendar.

In our continuing endeavours to improve the standard of our bands, we have secured the services of Bob Worrall, the renowned international pipe band adjudicator, to take us through our paces early in March. While he is in South Africa, Bob will also adjudicate some of the solo piping events at "The African Skye Solo Piping and Drumming Championship" as well as adjudicate solo piping and band events at the CBC Boksburg Gathering on the 15 March.

Sales of our debut CD, “An African Journey with Skye”, recorded live at our concert at the UJ Theatre in February last year, are ticking over nicely. This two-disc CD is retailing for R150.00 and can be ordered through Contact Us.

That is all the news for now. Please keep checking back to see what's new as we grow our site.

©African Skye Pipe Band 2007 to 2009