The South Canterbury Pipe Band is stepping up after a win at the nationals.

The good news arrived by mail on Wednesday evening when pipe major Scott Shannon opened a letter from the Royal New Zealand Pipe Band Association.

The band had been promoted from grade three to grade two after sterling performances at the two-day New Zealand and South Pacific Pipe Band Championships in Timaru this month, where it won the grade three title.

''It was pleasing news as far as our piping and drumming goes; we must be on the right track,'' he said.

The band is mainly made up of teenage players and had made significant improvements in recent years.

''They are so hungry and they have hit their straps over the past couple of years.''

There is no time to rest however as competition at a new level means more demands in terms of repertoire and playing. The band only stepped up to grade three last year when they placed second at the nationals in Tauranga.

''In our first contest seven years ago it was our objective to get into the top half of grade four and we got eleventh out of 23,'' Mr Shannon said.

And they are always on the lookout for new players.

''We have a senior, youth and development band,'' Mr Shannon said. ''We're getting more and more potential out of our young players.''

- © Fairfax NZ News

Comments