Fredericton Society of St. Andrew Pipe Band
| Fredericton Society of St. Andrew Pipe Band | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Grade | 2 |
| Pipe major | Gord Perry |
| Drum sergeant | Justin Gallant |
| Notable honours |
Grade 2 North American Pipe Band Champions, 2006 |
| Website | www.fssapb.org |
The Fredericton Society of St. Andrew Pipe Band is a grade two pipe band based in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. It was originally formed in 1927.
The band's Pipe Major is Gord Perry; lead drummer is Justin Gallant.
History
The Fredericton Society of Saint Andrew Pipe Band was formed in 1927. Since that, time the band has performed throughout Canada, the U.S, Scotland, England and France. It is the only pipe band in North America to have been invited and traveled in France on 5 occasions, in 1998, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. After winning the Grade 2 North American Championships in 2006, the band was officially promoted to Grade 1 by the Atlantic Pipe Band Association. In January 2008, the band requested regrading to grade two after losing several senior members to other bands.[1][2][3]
The band has attended the Festival Interceltique in Lorient twice, another first for North American Pipe Bands (’98, ’04), and in August 2005 the grade three section of the organization (now in the grade two band) attended the Festival Filets Bleu in Concorneau along with several members of the senior band. Most recently, a few members of the band performed at the Mardi Gras celebrations in Nice in February 2006. In all of these trips to France, the band played for crowds of more than 60,000. In September 2007, the band was invited to perform at the "Briezh Touch" festival and parade in Paris, France. This parade was believed to have brought crowds of approximately 500,000 people. Some members of the band were also invited to play in "Rugby Town" - the official fan headquarters of the IRB World Cup of Rugby adjacent to the Eiffel Tower. The band played prior to the Ireland - France game.
Junior Band and Academy
Established in 1985, the Fredericton Junior Pipe Band and Academy has been instructing local youth and adults in the art of bagpiping and drumming. Since that time, it has produced hundreds of pipers and drummers from throughout New Brunswick, who still remain with the organization or have since moved on to other provinces and bands. This teaching program has worked so well that it has been mirrored by a number of other bands.
The academy fields a competitive Grade 5 band.
Lessons are conducted at Nashwaaksis Middle School (Fredericton North) on Saturday mornings at 10:00 a.m. from September through May.
Discography
- Changing Times 1999