National Youth Pipe Band - Canada 2024

Who we are :

The National Youth Pipe Band of New Zealand is embarking on a musical development and leadership opportunity of a lifetime, taking on North America and the world's best piping and drumming education course. 

The Band is supported by the Royal New Zealand Pipe Bands' Association, a not-for-profit organisation which seeks to support, develop, nurture and encourage an inclusive, positive environment for young people in Aotearoa New Zealand to thrive. The Youth Band is the pinnacle of our high performance scheme, and is a critical part of our overall education work programme. They are given a positive environment to learn from the best, develop leadership and musical skills, and give back to the communities that have served them so well.

What we are fundraising for:

On our North American tour, we are aiming to provide the best tuition and mentoring for our youth in the pipe band scene here in New Zealand. The key part of the tour is for our Youth Band to attend the most prestigious pipe band school in the world, which draws its tutors from the very best pipe bands in Scotland, Ireland and Canada.

The members of the Youth Band are fully engaged with these world leaders in the pipe band scene, where they not only learn how to refine their own playing ability but they also learn life skills and leadership skills during the week-long school. As well as attending the Piping Hot Summer Drummer School at Silver Star Mountain Resort in Canada, the band will also make public performances in Vancouver and attend the Penticton Highland Games.

When they come back from North America, members of the band will share their experiences and knowledge to help to tutor learners and bands right throughout the country. 

Right from the grassroots level through to our high-performance Youth Band, educating the current and next generation of pipers and drummers is our top priority. 

The budget:

• Flights, Accommodation , bus hire $ 270,000.00
• Raised so far $ 237,000.00
• Further funding required $ 33,000.00

Your support in getting our next generation of superstars the best start to their piping and drumming careers will ensure that the art form continues to go from strength-to-strength in Aotearoa New Zealand.