Community
16 April, 2024
Shrill of the bagpipes
GET your bagpipes and kilts ready, the Cairns RSL Pipes and Drums band is now recruiting new members of all ages to bring a modern and refreshed look to the band and to instil the Celtic tradition in the Far North’s youth.
After undergoing a revival two years ago, the band is looking to expand and become more inclusive, attracting players and learners of all ages to showcase their talents across Cairns’ commemorative events.
Promoter and head teacher Christopher Adams said the band had been undergoing great changes with the purpose of growing.
“The band wasn’t very active when I first arrived in Cairns two years ago, so we reinvigorated our current members and we’ve got quite a few new members joining as well,” he said.
“We started marketing ourselves a bit better and performing in public and making announcements that we were looking for members who were experienced or any potential members who’d like to learn to play the bagpipes or the drums.
“We’ve got around six or seven learner-pipers at the moment and another three or four learner -drummers, and we’ve opened up the learning to all age groups from primary school to mature age participants, so the future of the group is looking bright.”
Gathering at the Cairns RSL Club in the Catalina ballroom the band meets every Thursday with learners starting from 5.30pm and the general band meeting at 6.30pm.
“We perform on ANZAC Day and every RSL commemoration, we also attend private veterans commemorations, funerals and weddings and do other public performances at the Cairns Show and Cairns Festival plus a public performance in front of the Cairns RSL Club on the Esplanade,” Mr Adams said.
“The sound of the bagpipes can be very emotional especially to those of us who are of Scottish or Celtic descent and it’s a tradition we’d like to keep alive.”
Mr Adams encouraged people in the community who’d like to learn the bagpipes or the drums to join the band.
“If you’re interested in learning the bagpipes or the drums, come along, we’ll teach you how to do it, we don’t charge anything for lessons, no previous knowledge in music is necessary, we’ll teach you how to read music.”
Anyone interested is asked to show up to the Cairns RSL club on a Thursday at 5.30pm and talk to band members.
