Hills District Pipe Band Annual Ball wins the toukley cup.

Hills District Pipe Band would like to encourage all interested people of all ages to join the band.

Imagine that you standing on the field at Bundanoon with over 300 pipers and drummers to the right and left of you. You have your friends in front and behind you and the Chief Drum Major cries out “Bands by the centre, quick march!”. The 20,000+ crowd quietens down in anticipation as the bass drums & tenor drums start booming, and the side drums start their rolls and snaps. Moments later an amazing sound like 10 thousand bees humming created by the drones of a mass of pipes is raised and the ground trembles with the sound of marching, the pipes kick in with the song and the band is complete. Words will never be able to truely express what it is like to actually be a part of this, least to say it is incredible.

You can be a part of this experience.

What makes our band so special is the fact that we have all been drawn together by the love of Scottish music and then kept together by the camaraderie we experience when we play together in scenes such as described above. We have positions available for all aspects of the band, you can choose to learn the Bagpipes, Tenor Drums (with the flourishing of the drum sticks), Side Drum or Bass Drum.

Anyone is welcome to join us, it doesn’t matter if you have had 10 years of musical experience or if the only instrument you have played is the recorder back at school. We are prepared to cater for anyone’s needs whether it be experienced or beginner (however if you are beginner, please leave the recorder at home), we have experienced and enthusiastic pipers and drummers available to instruct and mentor younger and inexperienced players so if you are looking for a band you can grow with then the Hills District Pipe Band is for you.

Some testimonials from newer players may give you an insight into joining the band:

Ben Holgate, 26
"I have been in the band for three years now and I absolutely love it, the band plays some pretty high profile gigs throughout the year like the ANZAC day dawn service in the Sydney CBD and it is great to be a part of such a closely knit group. I have been supported in every way and look forward to a future with the band"

John 'Piper' Robertson, now 50+
"I joined the band not knowing how to read music, play an instrument, march within a band, or keep time. For someone approaching the big 50 this was always going to be an uphill battle, however the band has given me an excellent opportunity to learn the first 3, while the latter is "still developing" within me.

The band is an excellent social band - we love to play as one at all the varied gigs we take part in, but most of all, we have FUN at the same time. I think that if the band were in to serious competitive playing, it would loose much of its fun-ness, and I would loose my enjoyment in playing.

The gigs are an immensely satisfying aspect, and range from the very small / local events (such as playing at retirement villages for a few dozen residents), through the Bundanoon, Toukley and Aberdeen Highland Gatherings, to the ANZAC Day Dawn Service and RSL Marches. The variety of event and of observers is massive, but throughout you always see a passion in the observers, and this gives me the "gee up" I need sometimes. So do not let age or lack of previous musical experience put you off - some of us still can't play well !! ...but we have oh-so-much fun trying."

The bagpipes are the national instrument of Scotland but this does not mean that you need to be Scottish to play them, at any of the highland gatherings all nations are represented throughout the bands and a great multicultural diversity is shown.

We are located in the north west of Sydney bordering Baulkham Hills and Castle Hill. We practise every Tuesday night from 7pm onwards at the Harvey Lowe Pavilion in the Castle Hill Showgrounds, you are more than welcome to just turn up if your interested or of course you can contact us for more information prior to coming.

When it comes down to it, we have a great deal of fun and all enjoy what we do, playing in a band can be extremely rewarding and for most of us, something that we will continue to do for the rest of our lives.

Mass Bands at Bundanoon