The World Pipe Band Championships is a pipe band competition held in Glasgow, Scotland.

Overview

The World Pipe Band Championships have been staged since 1947, although the Grade 1 Pipe Band Competition winners at the annual Cowal Highland Gathering were recognised as World Champions as far back as 1906.^{[citation needed]} The current venue is Glasgow Green.

There are no qualifications to enter, and bands do not have to enter or win any other competitions. The only requirement is the band is a member of the RSPBA or a Pipe Band Association recognized by the RSPBA.

Structure of the competition

Normally several hundred bands will attend, traveling from all over the world. Competition starts at 9 am.

Depending on the size of the grade - or in the case of Grade One, where a band has not secured automatic qualification - bands are required to perform in a qualifying round which takes place in the morning. The top bands at the end of the qualifying round will play in a second event in the afternoon to determine the winner.

To win, Grade One bands must perform in two events, a March, Strathspey and Reel event (known as an "MSR") consisting of three pre-arranged tunes - one March, one Strathspey, and one Reel, followed by a Medley event, which consists of a short selection of music chosen and arranged by the band. The band must prepare two MSR sets and two Medley sets, and then play one. This is drawn on the line.

From 2019, the Grade 1 contest was adjusted so that the performances of bands on the Friday would now count.

In 2023, the title is currently held by the Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band from Scotland.

Format

Until 2013, the World Championships took place on one day in August.

Since 2013 the Championships have been held over two days.^[1] For all but Grade One bands, the competition remains as it was, with each grade competing in morning qualifiers and afternoon finals on either Saturday or Sunday. For Grade One, all the bands (there will be no more automatic qualifiers for the finals) will be required to compete in a qualifying round on Friday, playing an MSR and a Medley. The 12 bands that qualify for the finals will then play a different MSR and Medley in Saturday's final for the championship.

In 2014, the schedule was changed to hold the Grade 1 qualifying rounds on Friday, and the Grade 1 finals along with the lower grade qualifiers and finals on Saturday.^[2]

In 2019, the grade one format was changed due to a smaller contest. "Grade 1 at the World Pipe Band Championships will be a two-day event with 15 bands playing both of the MSRs and medleys, one each on separate days, with all performances counting towards the final result."^[3] Every Grade 1 band has 2 separate MSR's and Medleys and is able to choose which one they play on Friday and then must play the alternate set on Saturday.

Live streaming on social media is forbidden.^{[citation needed]}

Competition grade system

Prizes at the Worlds are awarded in the following eight categories:^[4]

• Grade One
• Grade Two
• Grade Three "A"
• Grade Three "B"
• Juvenile
• Grade Four "A"
• Grade Four "B"
• Novice Juvenile "A"
• Novice Juvenile "B"

In the Novice Juvenile and Juvenile categories, band members must be under the age of eighteen, with the exception of one "adult" player, often instructors, who may serve as the Pipe Major or Pipe Sergeant. The remaining categories have no age restriction, but are based on proficiency. Grade One is the highest of these categories, and Novice is the lowest. Grading and eligibility are overseen by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA), and bands must apply for downgrading or upgrading.^[5]

Because of time constraints, the RSPBA uses "A" and "B" designations in Grade 3 and 4, for major competitions. By doing this, bands are grouped based on prior-years' performances, and can receive promotions within their respective grade. It is also important to note that these vary slightly throughout the world. For example, in North America, many regional associations have implemented Grade Five, an entry-level Grade, intended to help bands familiarize themselves with competition and in Australia, New Zealand and Northern Ireland there is no Novice grade at all. There is also no Juvenile grade in Northern Ireland.

Championship reigns

The highly coveted Grade One title remained in Scotland until 1987, when the Canadian 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band became the first overseas band to win the award. In recent years, the title has travelled to Canada a further six times with Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, Northern Ireland 13 times with the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, Australia with the Victoria Police Pipe Band in 1998, and the Republic of Ireland with the St. Laurence O'Toole Pipe Band in 2010.

The most successful pipe bands in this competition remain the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band (known as City of Glasgow Police Pipe Band from 1912 to 1975) winning 20 times, and the Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band (winning 16 times). Other multiple World Champions include the Muirhead & Sons Pipe Band (8 times), the Clan MacRae Society Pipe Band (eight times), and the Edinburgh Police Pipe Band (8 times).

List of champion bands since 1906

(C) indicates Champion of Champions^[6]

* indicates Best Drum Corps^[7]

Most successful bands

The following is a list of some of the most successful pipe bands at the world championships.