Traditional Scottish piping tunes part of St Andrew’s Concert Series

Ralph Hunter is one of a new generation of pipers who plays for the Hawke’s Bay competing band and has auditioned and been accepted into the New Zealand Youth Pipe Band. Picture supplied

Audiences can expect the rousing sounds of traditional Scottish piping tunes when The Gisborne City Highland Pipe Band plays at St Andrew’s Church on Sunday.

Well known Scottish tunes and songs and a few contemporary tunes will also be part of the programme along with guest performances by Coralie Hunter on organ, Amy Hou on the guzheng and Ralph Hunter: Hawke’s Bay Competing Band and the New Zealand Youth Pipe Band.

There will also be Highland Dancers to round out what is shaping up to be a varied and entertaining programme.

The Gisborne City Highland Pipe Band suffered damages to their building and equipment in Cyclone Gabrielle and are very grateful to the Gisborne Civic and Concert Bands for the use of their bandroom while they consider their future.

“The bandroom had a lot of water through it in the cyclone and the drums and uniform items were lost mainly due to contamination, as were fittings and furniture,” says pipe major David Andrew.

“The building’s piles especially have been damaged and the future of the building is uncertain.”

When numbers permitted in the past, the band competed in regional and national competitions and also mini band competitions in which they had some very good results over the years.

They lead several street parades, the most important one being Anzac Day.

Concerts have been disrupted by Covid-19 in past years so the band is pleased to have the opportunity to perform again on Sunday.

“This is a chance for the community to experience what the band has to offer as well as to give others the chance to perform in public,” Mr Andrews says.

Where: St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, corner Childers Road and Cobden Street.

When: 2pm Sunday August 27.

Admission free: Optional koha to performers appreciated for their fundraising effort.