Glengarry Pipe Band

The Glengarry Pipe Band was formed in early 1961 and has operated continuously since that time. The original purpose of the band was to provide a local host band for the Glengarry Highland Games in Maxville, Ontario.

With the arrival of Colin MacLellan as leader in 1987, the band began competing regularly in Grade 4, and was soon winning many competitions, including the North American Championship and the PPBSO Grade 4 Championship Supreme in 1987.

When the band was promoted to Grade 3, there was an obvious need to start training players at a basic level, and a second junior band was formed to compete in Grade 4. Over the years, this progressive system has graduated many players from learners to the junior band and on to the senior band.

The senior band progressed from Grade 4 (1987–88), through to Grade 3 (1989), and Grade 2, becoming Canadian, US, and North American Pipe Champions each multiple times, and taking prizes in Scottish contests (including 4th overall and 2nd in drumming at the Grade 2 World Pipe Band Championship). During this period, the junior band continued as a community and prize-winning competitive band, training many players who graduated to the senior band.

In 1997, the senior band was poised to enter Grade 1, but a combination of circumstances caused the group to fold. While the senior band dissolved, the junior band continued strongly, absorbing some members of the senior band, and continuing the Glengarry Pipe Band name. Under the leadership of Ross May, the band competed at Grade 4 and Grade 3 levels from 1997 to 2001.

Over the years the band has acted as both a community band (playing at local parades, shows, and other events) and as a competing pipe band, traveling throughout North America and to Scotland in pursuit of its goal of musical excellence.

In 2001, Colin Clansey assumed leadership of the Glengarry Pipe Band to reconstitute a senior grade competing band. Since then, the senior band has succeeded in Grade 2, winning prizes in Canada and the US, as well as at the World Pipe Band Championships in 2004.

In 2006, the Glengarry Pipe Band was awarded the PPBSO (Pipers and Pipe Band Society of Ontario) Champion Supreme title for Grade 2 and also captured the aggregate championship at the Celtic Classic in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

The junior band continued under the leadership of Ross May, and was successful at Grade 4 competitions in Ontario, New York, and Nova Scotia. In 2006, the band won prizes at several North American contests, and placed 3rd in Grade 4B at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow.

In 2008, Emily Kate MacLellan took over as pipe major of the grade 4 band. However, upon her departure for studies at the University of Toronto, she stepped down.

In 2010, the Glengarry Pipe Band introduced a junior grade 5 band. The band enterred the North Lanark Highland Games in late August, and placed third in their first ever competition. The following year, the grade 5 band fielded a highly competitive band, claiming two first place finishes at the Montreal Highland Games and the North Lanark Highland Games, as well as a silver performance at the North American Pipe Band Championships, in their hometown of Maxville.

Following the 2011 season, the Grade 2 band folded, merging with the Grade 2 Ottawa Police Pipe Band to field a combined band, trying to create a band that could challenge for first place at the North American PB Championships. The Grade 5 band was promoted to a Grade 4 band by the PPBSO (Piper's and Pipe Band Society of Ontario).

Currently, the Glengarry Pipe Band has two bands:

• A Grade 4 Band, who competes in various Highland Games across Ontario, Quebec, New York State and Nova Scotia, of whom many members are taught by the Glengarry School of Piping and Drumming
• A Grade 5 Band, who is currently under development, expecting to play in their breakthrough season in the summer of 2013.

The Grade 4 Band plans on attending the 2013 World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow.