PLC SYDNEY PIPES AND DRUMS ON THE GO!

The Pipes and Drums have had a fast start this year and are going from strength to strength in their performances.

By Mr Garry Barker Pipe Band Coordinator

On the first day of school, PLC Sydney’s serene atmosphere was adorned with the sound of music permeating the atmosphere right across the campus. Pipe Major Jasmine Chee from the Pipes and Drums stood on Dr Burgis’ balcony as students were arriving for their first school day of the year and welcomed them with great renditions of well-known Highland tunes.

Played well, bagpipes have an amazing sound, and Jasmine’s performance didn’t disappoint. The lone piper playing at the start and end of each term is now a tradition at PLC Sydney and will stand the test of time.

During February, Jasmine was joined by piper Minnie Jay to lead on the Billy Mac Dash competitors at the Senior Swimming Carnival. A marvellous sight and sound to kick off an important contest.

March kept the Pipes and Drums busy again, firstly with a parade and musical presentation at Jersey Day, with a great response from the audience. A highlight was to hear the crowd on the Sunken Lawn singing Amazing Grace with the Pipes and Drums, which is a huge compliment.

The very next day, the Pipes and Drums once again performed before the start of the Annual Church Service. A march from the Performing Arts Centre to the front of the College and then a musical performance to welcome the congregation rounded off a great weekend’s effort by the young ladies of the Pipes and Drums.

By this time, the Band was buzzing. There were already several performances completed and more to come.

Piper Ella Maitland played to lead her rowing team to a major event in March.

1 April saw the Pipes and Drums in Bundanoon, a beautiful village in the Southern Highlands south of Sydney, for the annual Bundanoon is Brigadoon Celtic festival. An early start, a street march of nearly 2 kilometres, an individual band display performance on the Bundanoon Oval and two massed band performances filled the day.

The massed bands comprised 25 pipe bands, fielding several hundred pipers and drummers. The girls’ performances brought tremendous comments from the audience, particularly about their demeanour and professionalism. The organisers estimate there were close to 10,000 spectators at the event.

Term 2 had barely begun, and the lone piper had barely played on Dr Burgis’ balcony, when the Pipes and Drums again performed for the public, this time in the ANZAC Day March in the Sydney CBD. In many ways, it turned out to be a tough day, but once again the girls performed professionally and represented their school admirably. There have been many positive comments about their performance and their showing on the ABC live broadcast proved their capability to a huge television audience.

They also played for the processional at the school ANZAC service. Once again, they did the job in style.

The remainder of Term 2 saw the girls play at Open Day and Fair, the 135 Year Anniversary Concert at the Sydney Town Hall, the Berry Celtic Festival, and the Senior Athletics Carnival.

The Pipes and Drums instructors are all duly proud of the girls. They represent the College to the public in inspirational ways and they do it with style. They are a class act.