ScottishPower became the title sponsor of the band in 1989 and the company is immensely proud of what they do and achieve. This makes the band great ambassadors for the ScottishPower brand all over the world.
Currently led by Pipe Major Chris Armstrong and Drum Sergeant Jake Jorgensen, the ScottishPower Pipe Band has won most major championships over the years and is regularly placed in the World Pipe Band Championships.
Twice winners of the Scottish Championships and the Cowal Championships, the Band has also held the All-Ireland title and secured second place in the World Pipe Band Championships on two occasions.
Musical Excellence
Under the direction of the Pipe Major, the pipers and drummers of the ScottishPower Pipe Band are committed to musical excellence and maintaining the proud tradition of the Highland bagpipe.
But the Band is also renowned for musical innovation, delighting audiences with new compositions and exploring new frontiers through collaboration with selected artistes, ranging from Sir Paul McCartney, to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Band recordings include, “Cathcart”, where the ScottishPower Pipe Band performs with two of Scotland’s leading performers, musician Phil Cunningham MBE and vocalist Karen Matheson. Other tracks on this highly original album feature session musicians, providing yet another new dimension to the band’s music.
The new album, ‘Live’ features piping greats and guest performers such as Stevie Lawrence and Daniel Griffin and is an opportunity for the band to showcase their talent and musical ability through the unique, exciting and highly competitive sound they produce. Piping and drumming has increased in popularity over the last decade and the band is delighted to embrace and welcome in the next generation of talented musicians, with its youngest piper just 16 years old this reinforces the importance of traditional music to listeners of all ages.
Prestigious Performances
The ScottishPower Pipe Band has performed to audiences all over the world, including in the US, Canada, Japan and China. In 2002 the Band led nearly 8,000 massed pipers and drummers through New York City on Tartan Day, marching with the Mayor of New York City and legendary Scots actor, Sir Sean Connery.
The Band has played for Her Majesty The Queen at Braemar and at the 75th Royal Variety Performance at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre, as well as performing at events such as the Lord Mayor’s Show in London. They have played with Sir Paul McCartney at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre and performed by invitation at the Vatican’s Christmas Concert.
Acting as ambassadors for ScottishPower, Band members have played at the New York Stock Exchange and at a Burns Supper attended by UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan. The ScottishPower Pipe Band played at the opening of the Scottish Parliament and has supported numerous fund-raising events. The Band has appeared on TV networks throughout the world and continues to be in demand in the UK and internationally.
Continuing Success
In addition to excellent standards of piping, the ScottishPower Pipe Band is renowned for the quality of its drummers and Drum Sergeant Jake Jorgensen is a regular finalist in the World Solo Drumming Championship every year.
The Band is always immaculately turned out and on top of its musical awards it has in the past been voted Best Dressed Pipe Band. The pipers and drummers wear the distinctive ScottishPower tartan, which was created specially for them by designers at the Scottish College of Textiles in Galashiels.
