Established 1978 Pipe major Peter Hyndrikx Tartan Cameron of Erracht Grade 2 | Location Antwerp, Belgium Drum sergeant Jan De Beuckelaer Active from 1978 | |
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Notable honours 1980: 4th place grade 4, Cowal highland Games, Dunoon (Sco), Glasgow (Sco), 2002: 2nd place ex aequo grade 3A, Cowal Games, Dunoon (Sco), 2010: 2nd place grade 3A British Championships, Annan (Sco) Similar Dysart and Dundonald Pipe Band, Inveraray & District Pipe Band, Boghall and Bathgate, Prince Charles Pipe Band, Triumph Street Pipe Band Profiles | ||
The Antwerp & District Pipe Band is Belgium's leading pipe band, it's also the first ever grade two band in Belgium which it became after becoming second at the British Championships in Annan.
Contents
History
The Antwerp & District Pipe Band is Belgium's leading pipe band. The band was founded in 1978, when a group of enthousistic musicians wanted to achieve a higher musical level and left the Red Hackle Pipe Band Belgium to start a competition-oriented band. In the first years of its existence the band was led by pipe major Ludo Thijssen and leading drummer Peter Vandeperre. In 1980, only two years after the foundation, the first successes came with a 4th place at one of the worlds biggest pipe band championships, the Cowal Highland Gathering. As a result, the band was promoted to grade 3. In the next thirty years, the band played at a top grade 3 level.
In 1988, the band started competing with two bands (a grade 3 and a grade 4 band), to improve the musical level. Andrew Tierney led the B-band to the top of grade 4 (Nowadays it is known as the Belgian Blend Pipe Band, and was recently promoted to grade 3b). In 1990, Andrew took over from Ludo Thijssen and became pipe major of the Antwerp & District Pipe Band until 2002, leaving the band in the hands of Thomas Kerkhof. Between 1999 and 2003, the band changed its name to Mühl Pipes & Drums and wore the Rangers FC tartan. These changes were a result of a sponsorship from the German company Mühl.
In 2009, the band felt it was time for another make-over, and swapped its distinctive blue Rangers kilt for the one they still wear today: Cameron of Erracht.
In 2010, the band (under musical direction of pipe major Stephen Tierney and leading drummer Jan de Beuckelaer), achieved a second place at the British Championships in Annan, Scotland. After thirty years in grade three (and later 3A), the band was once more promoted, this time to grade 2.
Band Members 2014
The members travel many miles for band practice and competitions. The Antwerp & District Pipe Band is also a very international band, with players from the Netherlands, Scotland, Canada, Germany and France. Some of the members have also played in various grade 1 bands or left the band to play with them.
Pipers:
Drummers:
Drone tuner: