The Glasgow Highland Club’s Annual Competitions for School Pipe Bands and Individual Pipers and Drummers will take place on SUNDAY 22nd FEBRUARY 2026 at Hutchesons’ Grammar School, 21 Beaton Road, Glasgow, G41 4NW.

Details of the Competitions and administrative arrangements for the event are below.

There is no entry fee.  The Entry Form is here (to be submitted by Friday 23 January 2026).

OVERVIEW

This annual competition is designed to help schools develop their pipers and drummers and their performance, that is: their collective performance as a band and their individual performance as a solo competitor.  The Competition is positioned early in the competing season so that bands and individuals can use the experience to improve their performance skills, to get positive critiques from experienced judges, and gain confidence “on the boards”.

Band Contests:
Senior Grade –  bands graded Juvenile.
Intermediate Grade  –  bands with competition experience or bands graded Novice Juvenile A.
Junior Grade  – development bands, bands who have not yet competed or bands in Novice Juvenile B.

Individual Competitions:  competitions cover the span of ages and competence levels:
     Piping  –  Senior, Intermediate and Junior.
     Drumming  –  Senior and Junior.

Should a School be unable to raise a full Band, individual Pipers and Drummers will be very welcome to take part in the individual competitions.

Pipers and Drummers not with a school band, or have left school and are under 18 years on 22 February 2026, may also enter the individual competitions.

Prizes:

Band contests:  in each grade there are trophies for the winning band, the runner up and the best Corps of Drums. The premier prize is the Highland Shield for the best senior grade band.

Individual competitions:  trophies for winners; plus sponsor prizes for those placed 1^st to 6^th.

Spectators: spectators are very welcome and a considerable cohort of parents, supporters and followers of pipe band events attend each year.  The band contest begins at 1000, solo competitions start at 1300, and Massed Bands and prize giving is usually around 1600.  A printed programme is available to guide you through the day, including lists of all the competition draws.  Refreshments are available from the School dining facility.

DETAILS  –  THE COMPETITIONS

BAND CONTESTS

Senior Grade  –  suitable for bands graded Juvenile.

Playing requirements: March Strathspey and Reel of own choice, each tune to be a minimum of 4 parts each.

Intermediate Grade  –  suitable for bands with competition experience or bands graded Novice Juvenile A.

Playing requirements: 4-parted March or 2×2-parted Marches, 4-parted Strathspey or 2×2-parted Strathspeys, 4-parted Reel or 2×2-parted Reels.

Junior Grade  –  suitable for development bands, bands who have not yet competed or bands in Novice Juvenile B.  

Playing requirements: 8 parts march tempo (any time signature).

INDIVIDUAL COMPETITIONS

Senior Piping  –  (March, Strathspey and Reel) open to Pipers over 16, or who are over 14 and have previously won a solo piping competition.

Intermediate Piping  –  (4-Part 2/4 March) open to Pipers aged 14-16 who have not previously won at this level.

Junior Piping  –  (any March of the competitor’s own choice) open to Pipers under 14.

Senior Drumming  –  (March, Strathspey and Reel) open to Drummers 15 and over.

Junior Drumming  –  (4-Part March) open to Drummers under 15.

Notes on Individual Competitions:

i.     Ages as on day of competition.

ii.    Drummers should be accompanied by a Piper.  However, if a Piper is not available, this will be taken into account by the judge.

COMPETITION ARRANGEMENTS

Entry  –  please ensure you have read the competition instructions before entering.  The form should be submitted as soon as possible; entries close on Friday 23 January 2026.  There is no entry fee.

Entry for Schools (bands and individual competitions).

Entry for individuals not with a school band (individual competition).

Timings  –  the Band contest will start at 1000 and the Solo competitions will run from 1300.  School facilities will be available for Bands to arrive from 0830.  The massed bands and prize giving should be complete by 1600.  (Timings will be confirmed once the programme has been compiled.)

Arrival  –  all Band leads are asked to ensure that they report to the Welcome Desk (located in the foyer at the Beaton Road entrance) in order to confirm their School’s entries, and to receive details of their assigned room and any additional information.

Stewarding  –  stewards will assist with orientation and guiding Bands and soloists to tuning rooms and competition rooms in accordance with the programme.

Band Contests  –  all bands (Senior Grade, Intermediate Grade and Junior Grade) should be led by an adult. Band contests will take place in the Assembly Hall.  Bands are asked to march in and march out of the Hall.

Senior Grade and Intermediate Grade Bands  –  should march into the hall, form up and halt on the start line; on signal of the Ensemble Adjudicator commence performance, stepping off to two three pace rolls, introductory E and form a circle whilst playing the first tune.

Junior Grade Bands  –  should enter the hall and march into circle formation without playing and halt; on signal of the Ensemble Adjudicator commence the performance in the circle with two three pace rolls and the introductory E.

In the event of a tie for first place, preference will be given to the Band with the higher mark for Ensemble.

Solo Competitions – there is no restriction on the number of soloists that may be entered but in the event of too many competitors, numbers may have to be restricted.  Piping competitors are asked to note that the judges will permit no more than one minute tuning time in the competition hall as there is sufficient opportunity for tuning in the final tuning rooms.  (It is preferable to restrict the time tuning rather than limit the number of competitors)

Massed Bands  –  the Massed Bands will parade at the close of the competition, prior to the announcement of results.  Massed Bands will play the Salute:  the first two parts of “The Glendaruel Highlanders”.

Adjudication Sheets  –  the adjudicators have been asked to give positive critique and feedback during their judging of both Band and Solo performances.  Marking sheets will be available to Band adult instructors at the close of the prize giving.

Trophies and Prizes

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

Parking  –  there is car parking available in the grounds of Hutchesons’ Grammar School using the Beaton Road entrance.  Buses should use the bus park drop off area at the Boleyn Road entrance to the School.  There is ample on-street parking for buses at Terregles Avenue (along Darnley Gardens) if required.

Welcome Desk  –  the event will be managed from the Welcome Desk located in the foyer at the Beaton Road entrance to the School.  Bands are asked to register at the Welcome Desk on arrival.  Lost and found property should be notified to Welcome Desk. 

Facilities  –  floor plans of the School, showing the location of the respective competition and tuning rooms, will be provided.  Bands will have use of a dedicated classroom for the day.  All classrooms should be cleared of litter prior to a Band’s departure.  Refuse bags will be provided and these should be used.  Toilets will be signed (Adults are to use Staff toilets; Pupils are to use Boys’ toilets, Girls’ toilets as appropriate).  There are no separate changing room facilities.

Catering  –  the School dining facilities will be available from 0900 for self-purchase of refreshments, breakfast snacks and lunch.  Schools are asked to give an indication of possible numbers for catering on the entry form, and whether they wish breakfast snacks to be available.  Water stations are available in the Dining Hall where competitors can fill their own bottles. 

Photography  –  there will be a photographer to capture the highlights of the day.  Unless we are told otherwise, it will be assumed that those competing in the events have given their permission to be photographed.  It is the responsibility of Band instructors to notify us of the name of those entrants who have withheld their consent, and the event they are playing in.

Spectators  –  spectators of the competition are very welcome and should arrive at the Beaton Road entrance.  They will be able to purchase refreshments and lunch in the School Dining Hall.  There will be an announcer for the Band performances  –  Band leads are asked to provide some background information on their Band that will be of general interest to officials and spectators on the day (to be included on the Entry Form).

Venue  –  the Glasgow Highland Club are delighted that Hutchesons’ Grammar School have agreed to host this event once again.  We would be obliged if you would please ensure that you leave your allocated classrooms as they are found; and that those in your charge do not interfere with property that does not belong to them.  Thank you for your help.

The Highland Shield – presented to the winning band in the Senior Grade.

The Highland Shield has always been used to encourage pipe band participation and performance. Initially presented by the Glasgow Highland Club to the Glasgow Battalion Boys Brigade to encourage pipe band development, the Highland Shield is now the premier trophy for the Club’s annual schools pipe band competition.

From its earliest years: “only Boys’ Brigade members of qualifying age could participate, and numbers were limited to six pipers, two side drummers and a bass drummer. The limited numbers encouraged companies who did not have large numbers of players to participate.”

Encouraging participation and performance are key aims of the Glasgow Highland Club Schools competition to this day.

[Courtesy of 214 Company, Glasgow Battalion, Boys Brigade.  Of note, 214 Company lifted the Highland Shield in serial fashion, winning the Glasgow Battalion Pipe Band Competition 29 times: 1944, 1947, and 27 consecutive wins from 1949 to 1975.]