COMPETITION PROGRAM
In addition to assisting its members gain the expertise and technical skills to play well as solo and band players, St Andrews Pipes and Drums, Mississauga also provides students with the opportunity to compete in both solo and band contests to take their playing to a more advanced level. Even though playing for your granny or a judge should sound the same, playing in competition, especially with a large successful group gives you skills beyond what you could have learned playing by yourself. With this in mind St. Andrews Pipes and Drums, Mississauga has developed a number of programs in partnership with top level competition bands where St. Andrews students can also experience the thrill and intensity of band competition in addition to the solo and other band skills at St. Andrews.
THE SPIRIT OF ONTARIO
Grade 5
In 2019, St. Andrews formed a formal partnership with Guelph Pipe Band and with Red Arrow 121 Cadet Squadron, a group of Cadets being taught by Guelph Pipe Band. This partnership allows players being taught by each band the unique opportunity to play and compete in entry-level grade 5 band competitions without having to quit their own bands or when their home bands may not have the numbers or players of similar ability to be able to compete as a band on their own. This partnership resulted in the creation of a combined grade 5 band being called The Spirit of Ontario Pipe Band. It is this spirit of collaboration that had members from these separate bands come together to compete together in 2019 with an additional player from The Fergus Pipe Band also joining the group.
The 2019 contest season saw The Spirit of Ontario winning and placing in the top 3 spots in a number of Ontario contests.
THE GUELPH PIPE BAND
Grades 2, 3 & 4
Guelph Pipe Band, led by Pipe Major Tyler Bridge, is one of the top competition bands in Ontario. Many of Guelph’s players are some of the best players in the province and also do well in solo contests and are part of its own teaching program. Players from St. Andrews Pipes & Drums, Mississauga when ready have the opportunity of also being part of Guelph’s higher grade competition bands. The level of dedication required to play with a band of this caliber is significant but well within the reach of players willing to put in the practice. These bands do travel occasionally for contests. Guelph competes regularly throughout Ontario and occasionally in the Maritimes. Guelph was also registered to compete in the World Pipe Band Championships in 2020 (Scotland) and will again be going to Scotland in 2022. Our partnership with Guelph Pipe Band provides our players with extraordinary opportunities to push their playing to the next level and develop a level of playing excellence.
