Oct 2008 - Morrison's Academy

Page 116 The Morrisonian | 07/08 Co-Curricular
Pipe Band
2007 – 2008 has been an interesting
session for the Pipe Band in many
ways and one which has seen the
welcome addition of several new
young members to augment its
strength both now and for the future.
The band performed on 12 occasions,
within School, locally and nationally.
In September, the Founder’s Day
service again saw the band lead the
school in procession to and from
Crieff Parish Church. The band also
enjoyed participating in a very varied
and entertaining evening of music in
October, as part of the concert given
by the school and the visiting German
musicians from the Louise Schröder
Gymnasium.
November saw our young trio
(Andrew Tanish, David McLeod and
Ben Vardi) again play well in the
Quartets and Trios competition at
Dollar, and they were ably supported
by other band members together with
those waiting in the wings for next
session. Also in November, the band
honoured its annual commitment to
the Remembrance Day parade,
again taking part in the event in
Crieff.
Another event which has become an
annual highlight is the band’s
contribution at the School’s Christmas
Fayre, although describing this
performance, in the cold dark
November night as being a highlight
may be something of a misnomer. If
only we had floodlights!! At least
there was more illumination when,
later the same day, the switching on
of the town's Christmas lights was
enhanced by the band’s spirited
performance.
Term two saw the band round off the
Easter Concert with huge numbers on
stage, again reflecting the wide
range of ages. After Easter and
‘under new management’ we
travelled to Edinburgh to take part in
the massed Schools CCF Beating
Retreat at Edinburgh Castle. I felt
quite a sense of pride when it was
suggested by more than one
independent observer that Morrison’s
was the smartest band on parade!
Inspired by that affirmation, the band
accepted an invitation to open the
Crieff Hospital Garden Party and, on
a sweltering June day, played two
sets to entertain the appreciative
crowds and even had time to ‘Beat
the Goalie’. The following Saturday,
the band was in action again at the
hugely successful Morrisonian Club
60’s Decade Reunion. All the
Morrisonians who attended were
delighted that the band is going from
strength to strength and some old
band members were even moved to
join in to demonstrate their old skills
on the drums.
The year’s performances were, as
usual, rounded off by appearances
at Sports Day and Speech Day.
On the evening of June 13th, the