OSCA
Pipes and Drums
OLD SCOTCH PIPERS AND DRUMMERS AT THE ACT CHAMPIONSHIPS ( LEFT TO RIGHT ): HUGH GRAHAM (‘ 18 ), ALASTAIR GRAHAM (‘ 15 ), LUKE HOLT (‘ 18 ), JAMES ATCHESON (’ 13 ), CAMERON WEBB (‘ 16 ), FREDDY CAMERON (‘ 16 ), GRAHAM REID (‘ 67 ), ROGER SINCLAIR (’ 58 ), KYLE BLANE-BROWN ( BASS ), EDDIE BUTLER (’ 05 ), STEWART WALLACE (’ 71 ), GEOFF COURTIS (’ 66 ), IAN BELL , DAVID TELFORD , JAMES KIOUSSIS (‘ 15 ), [ KNEELING :] PIPE MAJOR , DAVID FORBES (’ 79 ), LEAD DRUMMER , SCOTT DIENER .
OLD SCOTCH PIPERS AND DRUMMERS AT THE WORLD PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS , HELD IN GLASGOW IN AUGUST 2019
VIRTUAL BAND SESSIONS KEEP PIPERS AND DRUMMERS IN PLAYING ORDER
Band members use technology to overcome COVID-19 restrictions
Despite COVID-19 restrictions , the Old Scotch Pipes and Drums have been continuing their weekly practice sessions using the Internet and the Zoom videoconference meeting application . With careful setting of the Zoom controls , our pipers and drummers have set up virtual band practice sessions , to refine our current competition tunes , while learning new tunes , and generally keeping the band in reasonable playing order .
Pipe band competitions the world over have all been cancelled this year in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic . Even the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2020 and this year ’ s World Pipe Band Championships didn ’ t go ahead – and many bands are struggling to maintain their playing routine , as members wrestle with the implications of national restrictions and other impacts of the virus . The COVID-19 situation also prevented our regular public and charitable performances including Melbourne ’ s Anzac Day Parade , the Relay for Life cancer support event , and the Very Special Kids day .
However , for the Old Scotch pipers and drummers , it has been a unique opportunity to get some invaluable one-on-one skills improvement , with our accomplished Pipe Major , David Forbes (’ 79 ) and Lead Drummer , Ben Jones undertaking detailed breakdown and review of our key tune sets , and focusing on improved synchronisation of our playing performance .
To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the War in the Pacific , several members got their uniforms and pipes
out for a driveway rendition of Mark Saul ’ s very beautiful tune , VP-75 Lest We Forget , especially commissioned for the occasion . With the influx of talented young Old Boys into the band over the last couple of years , we were looking to prove ourselves in the 2019 / 20 Australian summer pipe bands season , aiming for possible elevation to grade 3 level . But , after winning the ACT Championships for the third year running , and then with all remaining Australian events cancelled from late February , those aspirations were sadly scuppered .
It is still not clear if , when and how the 2020 / 21 summer pipe bands season will convene . But Old Scotch Pipes and Drums members are working hard to ensure that we ’ ll be fully ready to compete , when events begin to be convened .
With uncanny luck , several of our playing members also managed to coordinate a trip to the 2019 World Pipe Band Championships held in Glasgow in August last year , and listen to the very best bands from around the planet – the lucky lads are pictured enjoying the unique atmosphere . We also had two pipers selected to play in Scotland this year ( Cameron Webb (’ 16 ) – previously with Scottish Power but this year with Shotts and Dykehead , and myself in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo house band , Piper ’ s Trail ) – but the pandemic unfortunately emerged to quash those plans . So , we ’ re now just focused on keeping up our practice routines while looking forward to next year . STEWART WALLACE (’ 71 )
78 Great Scot Issue 161 – December 2020