Paris Port Dover Pipe Band
The Paris Port Dover Pipe Band is a community and competitive pipe band representing Brant and Norfolk counties in southern Ontario, Canada. The mandate for the Paris Port Dover Pipe Band is to "act as ambassadors locally and internationally; to provide young people of any skill level with instruction in Scottish music and give them opportunities to play with the band; and to assist local service clubs and non-profit groups with their various ceremonies, memorials, parades, and events through band performances." Members come from Brantford, Simcoe, Port Dover, Hamilton, St. Catherines, Guelph, Kitchener and Cambridge to practice every Thursday night at the Paris Agricultural Hall.
History
The band was established on February 18, 2000 by Pipe Major Gordon Black when a constitution and small band were formed out of 10 pipers, 1 bass, and 1 snare. Originally, the band was called the Paris Pipe Band or the Port Dover Pipe Band, depending on the location of their performances. The band changed its name to the present Paris Port Dover Pipe Band in 2005 when they incorporated and gained charitable status. As of 2010, the band has grown to over 120 members.
Sectional Pipe Majors
The Paris Port Dover Pipe Band has four distinct sections which are divided into the competition and parade bands (as of 2011):
- Glen Howie (Grade 3)
- Bradley Smith (Grade 4)
- Marrell Gibson (Grade 5A)
- Kevin Bagg (Grade 5B)
World Pipe Band Championships
The Paris Port Dover Pipe Band has competed at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland on two occasions. In 2007, the grade 4 band placed 4th overall in grade 4A out of 38 competing bands. In 2008, the grade 5 band competed at the 4B level and placed 2nd out of 49 bands.
Performances
- Calgary Stampede (2004)
- Lake Louise (2004)
- Mount Rushmore (2004)
- Yellowstone National Park (2004)
- Virginia International Tattoo (2005, 2006, 2008-2012) (Norfolk, VA)
- D-Day Beaches (2006) (Normandy, France)
- Marrymass Festival (2006) (Irvine, Scotland)
- Paul McCartney (2010) (Air Canada Centre)
- [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pzjb-SG-KJc| Crete International Tattoo] (2011) (Crete)
The band has also performed at numerous charity functions throughout Brant and Norfolk county including Legion events, Run for Light in Brantford, ON, Relay for Life Cancer Fundraiser, Springtime in Paris, and the Paralympics Track and Field Meet.
References
- Citations