Welcome to Old Scotch Pipes & Drums
The OSPD formed in 2009 under Pipe Major Brian Symington, and comprised former students of Scotch College who came together to resurrect their piping and drumming skills in a friendly and enthusiastic pipe band environment. Many of those original members are still playing with the band, which has now grown to encompass many generations and a broad community of players but still retains the welcoming and encouraging attitude that the band was founded on.
Under the continued leadership of Pipe Major - David Forbes and Lead Drummer - Ben Jones, Old Scotch Pipes and Drums now compete in Grade 4A, as well as supporting a number of charitable organisations and community events around the State.
OSPD is very fortunate to be supported by the Old Scotch Collegians Association, with one of the aims being to offer recent school leavers a band to join in order to continue their musical careers. We are also in the very enviable position of being the beneficiaries of the support of the Scotch College Pipe Band team, led by Mark Saul, who actively encourages ongoing participation in bands in general and OSPD in particular.
OSPD includes members from beyond the Old Scotch fraternity and welcomes all those who share our interest in playing pipe band music and contributing to the growth of the band within a respectful and friendly culture.
Band Practice
The band practices at the MCC/OSCA Bowling Club, Swinburne Avenue, Hawthorn, and Scotch College at the Pipe Band House in Morrison Street, Hawthorn.
We typically conduct practice on Wednesday evenings from 6:30pm to 9:00pm, with the Grade 4B band practicing between 6:30 and 7:30pm and the Grade 3 band practicing between 7:30 and 9:00pm. Wednesday practice is held at the MCC/OSCA Bowling Club.
We also conduct Sunday practices from 10 am to 12 noon, particularly in the contest season. Sunday practice is held at Scotch College.
OSPD in 2025
OSPD continues to grow and develop as a band and has evolved to be a generationally diverse group. As such, we seek to engage all members by accommodating the prevailing variations in playing standards as well as our different work, study and life commitments.
In our relatively short history, we have consistently maintained an upward trajectory which has been a direct consequence of strong committee support, energetic musical leadership, expert tuition and a playing group committed to achieving our goals. This has been underpinned, as always, by our sense of comradery, shared values and a desire to enjoy our overall involvement in the band.
Further, we are delighted that we have created a culture that encourages new generations of players to join our band. This has been reflected with the appointment of younger members in key leadership roles – both musically and through the committee. This growth in talent has presented OSPD with the opportunity to advance the overall musical standard of piping and drumming and as a consequence, our competition performances. This advancement has clearly contributed to the band’s successes over the past three years, with the band being promoted to Grade 3 from Grade 4A in mid-2024.
As well, Old Scotch is working towards establishing a second band - in Grade 4B. The purpose of establishing this band is to provide an avenue for our growing group of school leavers, players in our learner program and members not currently at the level to compete with our Grade 3 band. This is to ensure that these members participate more fully in pipe band life with OSPD and to develop their playing ability with a view that this band will provide a pathway to the higher-grade band.
A major plank of our overall strategy is to continue to foster our relationship with PLC and Scotch College in order to provide an environment that encourages students to continue their pipe band journey. Pleasingly, we have been successful in attracting cohorts of former students, largely because of our band culture; the connection with former school members the opportunity to continue to learn with experienced tutors; and our program of travel and competition.
Competitions
As a relatively new band in the Victorian and Australian pipe band scene, OSPD has already made an impact as a competing outfit. From the time that OSPD was established, competitions have been regarded as an important vehicle to improve the standard of playing and to increase the band’s repertoire of tunes. Competitions are also seen as important in maintaining the musical interest of all players – by providing a challenge both individually and as a band. They also provide the opportunity for the band membership to enjoy each other’s company in a social environment – after the hard work is done of course!
Whilst the early competition performances were met with encouraging feedback, things began to noticeably change in the 2016/17 season – when the band started to gain places at competitions such as Ringwood, Geelong and Daylesford. The breakthrough came at the Canberra Championships in October 2017, where the band was placed first in Grade 4 – against bands from Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane. This was the first big win for the band and an outstanding reward for the years of commitment and hard work!
Since that time, the band has gone on to win competitions at Daylesford and Bendigo and the Victorian Championships at Geelong in 2018. The band also travelled to Brisbane in 2018 to compete in the South Pacific and Australian Pipe Band Championships and against very strong opposition (comprising over 20 Grade 4 bands from Australia and New Zealand), OSPD was placed fifth overall. Another great result!
The band has travelled back to Canberra to successfully defend its Grade 4 title in 2018 and 2019 and has also taken the opportunity to compete and be placed in several Grade 3 competitions, including Daylesford and the Bendigo ‘Scots Day Out’.
OSPD is planning to continue its pursuit of competitions – including the push towards Grade 3, which will likely include traveling either interstate or overseas in the next 18 months – possibly to a major Championship in New Zealand. Stay tuned for more news!
