College Media Student joins as Head of Advertising for our team of Pipes & Drums Volunteers

The City of Rochester Pipe Band marching along the High Street during Gravesend Christmas Lights

Elisa takes a casual stroll through the woods near her home

 

 

In a recent restructure of the staffing for our Volunteer Pipes & Drums team, we have recently made a new appointment. We are delighted to introduce you to our Head of Advertising, Elisa Benaggoune. Elisa is a Media Student and studies at a Kent College, achieving high standards during her lessons. Her interest in media, coupled with a passion for music, lead her to ask for a role within our team. Elisa is responsible for promoting all news of major events we are involved in, and also the publication of new compositions. These are put out across most Social Media platforms, such as BlogSpot, Twitter and Instagram.

Elisa released her first post with great enthusiasm, advertising the City of Rochester Pipe Band's part in the Santa Fun Run Parade last Saturday. Senior Adviser Sheila Showell has spoken highly of Elisa's first post, commenting that it persuaded her Daughter and Granddaughter to take part.

 

We are delighted that Elisa is feeling so welcome and we are very excited to be working with her. Our team, Elisa included, will be attending a number of events throughout the year to promote the organisations we are involved with. We look forward to seeing you all and would like to wish Elisa the very best of luck in her role, and we hope that she will have an enjoyable time with us.

Yours Aye,

Christopher Nelson
Assistant Musical Adviser  





 

Welcome to Highlands Productions

 We are pleased to announce the launch of our brand new Voluntary project, as outlined below:

Highlands Productions is a voluntary independent company based in three areas: Medway, Maidstone and Dartford. We are responsible for coordinating musical displays for three separate companies.

Our team of staff is led by myself and our newly appointed Assistant Director of Pipes and Drums, who will be announced shortly. She brings with her a lifetime of experience both in drill and in music, having spent time developing her knowledge of piping and military music with 2513 Romney Marsh Air Training Corps and will take up her new position later this year.

We are actively involved in coordinating the displays for the Southern Highlanders, where I am the current Voluntary Musical Adviser. At present, we have just finished the Waterloo 200 Parade and are busy  planning routines for the Ystad International Military Tattoo and the Birmingham International Tattoo. The latter will take place at the end of November 2015.

Recently, Highlands Productions have been appointed as the main Pipes and Drums Director for Sapphire Productions, and the hope is that we will be able to include a military element in the form of Pipes and Drums as part of their highly successful Westfield Presents events. The same effect has taken place with former Britain’s Got Talent finalist, Hollie Steel and this concept may become part of some of her many major events.

We are constantly developing links with major musical organisations and have in recent times made contact with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Captain (Retd) Stuart Samson of the Basel Tattoo, and the Band of the Welsh Guards. Although the latter is in the planning stages, we are hopeful that this will open up greater negotiations with the Household Division in the future. We look forward to working with you in the future.

 

Christopher Nelson

Highlands Productions

Queen Victoria School Pipes and Drums to lead Massed Pipes and Drums at 2015 Avenches Tattoo

 

We have great pleasure in informing all our followers that the famous Queen Victoria School Pipes and Drums will be taking the lead in the Massed Pipes and Drums at this year's Avenches Tattoo in French speaking Switzerland. The young players from Dunblane in Scotland will be performing alongside Northern Ireland's Culleybacky Pipe Band and Switzerland's Vallensis Highlanders, who will also be joined by individual players. They will all be under the direction of the Tattoo's Director of Pipes and Drums, Pipe Major Finlay McDonald from Glasgow. We are delighted that the students from QVS will be taking part this year and would like to take this opportunity to wish them the very best of luck.

 

Details of the repertoire for this year will be published as soon as we have received them.

 

Christopher Nelson

Brigadier David Allfrey releases details for Edinburgh Tattoo Pipers Trail Participants in 2015

We are delighted to inform you that Brigadier David Allfrey MBE, Chief Executive and Producer of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, has released the application details for Pipers Trail participants at the 2015 Tattoo. Interested players should consult the information below:

The Pipers' Trail 2015
Would you like to play at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo?

Details

Following the huge success of The Pipers’ Trail as part of the 2014 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, we are now looking to extend the scheme. Last year, we brought together a tremendous volunteer band of 27 pipers and drummers under Pipe Major Selwood to rehearse and perform for the whole of the Tattoo season in Edinburgh. They created a major impact. They integrated seamlessly with the team - over 250 pipers and drummers in established bands - were well turned out, expert in their foot drill and played to a splendid standard. Our own view of the band’s performance and the judgement of the Director of Bagpipe Music were further reinforced in a number of hugely positive remarks in our audience feedback. This wonderful result have encouraged us to develop our vision and plans at pace. The Massed Pipes and Drums that have played at the Tattoo to such tremendous effect for the last 65 years has traditionally been drawn from the United Kingdom’s Armed Forces: the Scottish Regiments along with those with a Celtic tradition and the Royal Gurkha Rifles. This core capability has been beautifully reinforced by formed Pipes and Drums invited from amongst our friends and allies around the world; a wonderful selection of civilian bands and some schools and colleges. The mix has always worked elegantly and well, with everyone receiving the Tattoo pipe programme some months out and then coming together for a period of rehearsal in Edinburgh, before joining up with the rest of the cast for rehearsals in Redford Barracks and at the Castle. The Pipers Trail was originally conceived in 2007 as an 'Army in Scotland' campaign to engage with the civil community. Over 4 years the scheme covered the length and breadth of Scotland visiting schools and communities encouraging an interest in the Great Highland Bagpipe, Highland Drumming and Dancing. Now, the project has been taken on by the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo with the same broad intentions but also to enable a wider community to participate in one of the world's greatest celebrations of pipe, drums and military music. Development of The Pipers Trail was stimulated by a comment by a piper made in 2011: "I have been waiting all my life to march across the drawbridge with the Massed Pipes and Drums, playing as one." This remark coupled with the Tattoo’s desire to draw ‘talented’ pipers and drummers to the Massed Pipes and Drums led to our developing a scheme that would allow musicians, who may be linked or not linked to a formed band, to join in. With Scottish Government support, we equipped and uniformed a single file of pipers and drummers, with a Pipe Major, Drum Major and Base Drummer. The process of recruiting and auditioning volunteers, equipping and uniforming them, conducting practice and rehearsal was refined through the pilot and we are now looking to recruit a new and larger band for the 2015 season. This time, we are looking for 2 full files: 50 pipers and drummers in all! Those pipers and drummers looking to be considered to take part in this unique musical experience should have a smart bearing and presence, be a capable musician and be prepared to practice and perform throughout the Tattoo period. The 2015 Tattoo will run over the period 2 - 29 August 2015 (including rehearsals). We are looking for pipers and drummers who can play to at least Grade 3 standard, with the ability to assimilate the 2015 Pipe and Drum score and take instruction. We are keen to encourage selected and talented younger players and are very keen to encourage participation from the international piping and drumming community. Our theme this coming year is ‘East Meets West’ and looks to bring together performers from China, India, Russia, Europe, the United States and South America. We have invited formed pipe bands from Australia, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand and the USA. The Pipers’ Trail band will join this huge array to form a singular band of nearly 250 musicians. With the continuing support of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, The National Piping Centre, The College of Piping and the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming. The vision is to increase the proficiency and reach of The Pipers Trail to deliver a formidable piping and drumming capability for public performance in Scotland and around the world. This year, we are also looking to build a database that can be developed to offer further opportunities to perform at other events in Scotland and around the world. Those interested should email applications to: piperstrail@edintattoo.co.uk The email should be accompanied with a CV and some evidence of playing standard. If formal qualifications are unavailable, applicants may provide a reference from a Pipe Major of an established Band. Applications will close on 28 February 2015. Successful candidates will be provided with Full Dress uniform and the necessary tuition in foot drill, turnout, musicianship and the opportunity to join 250 other pipers and drummers as part of the Massed Pipes and Drums. The Band will perform each evening in front of a live international audience of 8,800 each evening - a total of 220,000 during the season and a further 100 - 300 million on television around the World! Over half of all available tickets to the 2015 Show were sold on the first day tickets went on sale! Brigadier David Allfrey MBE Chief Executive and Producer, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

As ever, we wish those who are successful the very best of luck, and would like to congratulate the Brigadier on the success of this outstanding new venture.

65th Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo sells out for 16th successive year!










An inspiring sight as the 266 strong Massed Pipes and Drums prepare for their final performances on Saturday 23rd August

 

Brigadier David Allfrey, Tattoo Chief Executive and Producer, has every right to be proud of his achievements in creating a wonderful spectacle for Tattoo audiences this year. Highlights included 266 Pipes and Drums from 15 bands, 3 Royal Marines Bands and an amazing fusion between Highland and Maori Dancing.

As usual, every show begins with the heart stopping Massed Pipes and Drums, spilling across the castle drawbridge. The set this year features time honoured favourites "Loch Lomond", Within a Mile o Edinburgh Toon" and "The Gallowa Hills".

This year, the bands comprised:
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, The Royal Dragoon Guards, The Queen's Royal Hussars, Royal Scots Borderers, Royal Highland Fusilliers, The Black Watch, The Highlanders, The Royal Irish Regiment, The Royal Army of Oman, The Australian Federal Police, The Paris Port Dover Pipe Band from Canada, The Tasmania Police Pipe Band from Western Australia  the Manchester Branch of the Scots Guards Association and first time performers, The Pipers Trail, a new group formed by the Tattoo to enable the wider community in Scotland to play a part in major events.

The whole show was designed to take the audience on a journey across the Commonwealth, visiting Malta, South Africa, Nagaland, Singapore, New Zealand and Trinidad and Tobago. All of this was achieved through music, song and dance. I particularly enjoyed the New Zealand act as a fusion between Highland and Maori Dancing can be difficult to achieve. However, if anybody can achieve it, then the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo can!

A glorious party to celebrate the return home featured well known favourites such as "Alexander's Ragtime Band", "Hey Baby"! and "Happy" by the well known artist Pharrell Williams. Huge thanks must go to Micheal McDermott, Tattoo Musical Advisor and Lt Col Nick Grace, Principal Director of Music, Royal Marines, for the first class arrangements. To be able to play 10 different musical numbers in such a short space of time is truly remarkable.

I have followed the Tattoo and Producer David Allfrey on social media for over a year now. It is a privilege to see the show gradually coming together as a new act is confirmed. Next year, I am sure, will see some more amazing acts. Our links with the Tattoo continue to grow and I should be attending for a fourth time next year!

I am sure that there is a very bright future for the show and I look forward to following the development of the 2015 show in Edinburgh!

Congratulations on a very successful show, and of course, your 16th successive sell out season!

All best wishes,
Chris Nelson

Pipers Trail to be represented at Edinburgh Castle during Tattoo

 

 

We have just heard the exciting news that the annual Pipers Trail is to be represented in the Massed Pipes and Drums  at this year's Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo by a group of 25 pipers and drummers, playing alongside icons such as the Classical BRIT Award winning Royal Scots Dragoon Guards as the Tattoo Chief Executive and Producer, Brigadier David Allfrey MBE explains in a report published by the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association:

 

For many years, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has drawn the Massed Pipes and Drums from the Armed Services' Pipes and Drums along with invited international Pipe Bands (military and civilian) and some selected schools and colleges.

The prerequisites for attendance have been a smart and soldierly manner (in foot drill and turnout), musical excellence and a commitment to practice and perform across the run (essentially 4 weeks in late-July and August including rehearsals). This year for the first time, we have invited a Regimental Association Pipe Band and we are looking to form a 'house' Pipes and Drums as a pilot for a larger scheme designed to embrace the wider national and international Pipes and Drums community. This scheme will be known as 'The Pipers Trail'.

The Pipers Trail was originally conceived in 2007 as an 'Army in Scotland' campaign to engage with the civil community. Over 4 years the scheme covered the length and breadth of Scotland visiting schools and communities encouraging an interest in the Great Highland Bagpipe, Highland Drumming and Dancing. Now, the project has been taken on by the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo with the same broad intentions but also to enable a wider community to participate in one of the world's greatest celebrations of pipe, drums and military music.

This year - with the support of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, The National Piping Centre, The College of Piping and the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming - we are looking for volunteers to form a Pipers’ Trail file on the Tattoo; one of 15 files on parade. We are looking for up to 25 pipers and drummers who can play to at least Grade 3 standard, with the ability to assimilate the 2014 Pipe and Drum score and take in instruction, before rehearsals. We would also like to open the scheme to select and talented younger players.

The successful candidates will be provided with Full Dress uniform (for the duration of the Tattoo: 28 Jul - 24 Aug 14), instruction in foot drill and the opportunity to join 250 other pipers and drummers as part of the Massed Pipes and Drums - one of the largest cohorts ever to play on the Tattoo. The Band will perform each evening in front of a live audience of 8,800 each evening (220,000 across the run) and on a variety of major 'outreach' events.

This year, we are looking for established players, preferably (but not essentially) from within commuting distance of Edinburgh, to kick start the programme. If this pilot is successful we hope to expand the scheme in coming years to grow a significant 'bank' of suitable pipers and drummers in Scotland and from across the world for future Tattoos and other prestige events.

Email applications (to: piperstrail@edintattoo.co.uk) should be accompanied with a CV and accompanied by any evidence of playing standard. If formal qualifications are unavailable, applicants may provide a reference from a Pipe Major of an established Band. Applications close on 1 Jun 14.

David Allfrey
The Pipers' Trail

 

 

As stated above, anybody who is interested in applying for this unique opportunity should contact the email address above. I am hugely delighted that the Brigadier is providing the members of the Pipers Trail with such an amazing opportunity and I hope that the publication of this post will assist him greatly in seeing that this plan comes to fruition.

 

This would be a fantastic opportunity for our younger generation of pipers and drummers to spend time with the staff at the Army School of Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming and I would urge the aspiring  piper or drummer to give this some serious consideration. You are being presented with an opportunity to prove your talent in the best way possible.

 

For our regular readers, there is due to be another event taking place in Edinburgh around this time and more details will be published as soon as I have received them.

 

On behalf of myself and my colleagues, I wish Brigadier David Allfrey every success with this plan and I hope very much that it proves successful.

 

I look forward to seeing the finished results in August.

 

Best wishes to you all,

Christopher Nelson

 

 

 

 

2014 will be a varied year for all our musical stars

The year ahead looks very exciting for all of the organisation's we are involved with. The City of Rochester Pipe Band are continuing their campaign to find new pipers to boost their ranks for the 2014 season. Congratulations to Stuart, a beginner who under the guidance of Mick Hicks, founder and former Director of Music for the band, has been playing simple tunes for the last few months and is gradually becoming a very competent piper.

Meanwhile, my colleagues at London and South East Region Air Cadet Pipes and Drums also look set for another busy and varied year. Under the joint direction of Flight Lt Dave Law, CI Dorothy Rochester, Major Jim Stout and Captain Brian Elrick, the band are becoming better every time.

In February, the band will be travelling to Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium, where they will be performing in an event commemorating Armistice 100. They will also be travelling to Inverness in April to take part in the annual Cadet Beating Retreat.

Huge congratulations are in order for Jodie Melville, who is gradually moving from chanter to pipes, and is able to play basic tunes using a chanter.

We hope that in the future, the band will be taking part in the annual Berlin Tattoo. This will hopefully become a reality for them through a partnership that I am currently forming with Captain Stuart Samson of the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland. Please be aware that this link up is in the planning stages and nothing has been set in stone yet.

Many of you will now know that I am actively involved with former Britain's Got Talent finalist Hollie Steel, now dubbed as one of the finest classical singers in the country. There are many small organisations all over the world who work tirelessly to support Hollie in her career. Ours is the Hollie Steel Project. Run jointly with Grange Park @ Mid Kent College, we maintain contact with the family and assist with event organisation every now and then.

2014 looks set to be another varied year for Hollie with three brand new charity events already in the diary. We will release more information when it becomes available.


We hope you will stay tuned to our blogs for further updates and we look forward to working with these organisation's throughout the coming year.

Kind Regards
Christopher Nelson
Event Organiser and Founder, Hollie Steel Project