Nelson’s Celtic Pipe Band have come home from nationals with the highest placing a pipe band from the Top of the South has ever received.
The band, based in Stoke, took over 50 members ranging in age from 10 through to 69 to the National Pipe Band Championships held in Auckland last weekend.
The band won the NZ Grade 2 Title after nine years of attempting to beat bands from around the country and Australia and came home with two other trophies.
“Our Grade 4a band also competed with class as well as our Juvenile band which comprised of many new players competing in their first-ever nationals,” says pipe major Callum Gilchrist.
“Although there were no prizes for the Grade 4 and Juvenile bands - they competed with distinction and the Grade 2 win is a win for our entire organisation as we all work together as one band, helping each other thrive and enjoy the art of pipes and drums.”
He says, the band has been attempting to claim the top spot after winning the Grade 3 spot in 2015 and moving up to the higher level.
He adds that it cost around $50,000 to get the band to nationals and they would appreciate partial sponsorship to help them defend the title in Invercargill in 2025.
Callum says there is a large learner programme with world class tutors based at Nayland Primary with classes on a Thursday evening.
“If anyone aged from 9-13 would like to take up the pipes or drums or just wants to find out more, they can reach us on our Facebook page.”
The band can next be seen at their Ceilidh, which will be held at Nayland College on 25 May.
For sponsorship assistance, the band can be contacted on Celticpb.nelson@gmail.com
