Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band

Jonathan Greenlees Wins Dunvegan Medal

Field Marshal Montgomery piper Jonathan Greenlees of Lisburn took home the coveted Dunvegan Medal for Piobaireachd on 5 August, 2008. The event is held annually in Portree, on the Isle of Skye. Skye is home of the famous MacCrimmons and as such the requirements for the Dunvegan Medal insist that each competitor submit four MacCrimmon tunes. Jonathan won with Lament for Donald Doughal MacKay against a field of 29 other top competitors. The event was judged by Iain MacFadyen, Malcolm McRae and Alan Forbes. Jonathan’s big win gains him an invitation to the Silver Chanter competition at Dunvegan Castle next year; an invitational event which is a direct pre-qualifier for the Glennfiddich, the most esteemed solo piping competition in the world. A huge congratulations to Jonathan is extended from the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band.

FMM Pipers Excel in July Solos

For many of the pipers in the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, the summer is not only a time to focus on the band and the upcoming World Championships, but also to pursue solo careers while working around the band’s difficult practice and performance schedules. While solo achievements can definitely be attributed to personal drive and hard work, the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band is proud of what its members are achieving. Here is what has been done in the month of July:

Michael Fitzhenry

2nd in 'B' Grade March

Alex Gandy

1st in the 'A' Grade March
5th in the 'A' Grade Strathspey & Reel
3rd in the Open Strathspey & Reel in Balloch

Jonathan Greenlees

4th in the March at Balloch
5th in the Open Strathspey & Reel at Stirling

Donald MacPhee

2nd in the Open March at Luss
2nd in the Open Strathspey & Reel at Luss
3rd in the Open Piobaireachd
2nd in the 'A' Grade Strathspey & Reel
2nd in the Open March at Balloch
2nd in the Open Strathspey & Reel at Balloch

Gordon McCready

1st in the Open March at Killen
1st in the Open Strathspey & Reel at Killin
1st in the Open Piobaireachd at Killin

FMMPB are European Champions 2008

Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band - 2008 European Pipe Band Champions

Pipe Major Richard Parkes MBE receiving the European Championship award

It was a fantastic day for the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band at the European Championships on 26 July, 2008. The third major championship of the 2008 season was held in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, the home town of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band. 141 bands competed under warm and sunny skies and the sunshine and high temperatures attracted a huge crowd to enjoy the music and displays.

The band was the second last competitor in the grade, playing in the late afternoon at 1620 hours. The band drew their number two March, Strathspey & Reel set for the third time this year, playing Pipe Major Tom McAllister, Susan MacLeod and Charlie’s Welcome. The band had an excellent performance and both the pipe corps and the drum corps came off the field happy with their individual performances, as well as being happy as a band overall.

Keith Orr with the European Drum Corps Championship award When the results were called, the band was delighted to see Leading Drummer Keith Orr collect the award for Best Drum Corps. The overall result followed, with the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band named the 2008 European Champions, also winning the Piping with first place marks from both piping judges.

It has been 3 years since a Grade 1 band won both the piping and drumming at a major championship. And winning the piping, drumming and overall award on home ground also made for a special occasion.

The band’s European victory helped to cement its place the final of the World Pipe Band Championship, where the band has pre-qualified for the contest which will take place in three weeks, on 16 August in Glasgow, Scotland. The band’s next performance is the Ulster Championships in Bangor, Northern Ireland, on 9 August: the last competition before the World Pipe Band Championships on 16 August, 2008.

New Baby for FMM Piper Brian Martin

The Martin Family The Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band would like to welcome the newest addition into the FMM fraternity: Jack Thomas Martin, new baby of Brian and Laura Martin. Baby Jack was born in Dundonald Hospital in Belfast weighing a healthy 7lb 15 oz, and both mother and baby are doing well.

Brian Martin is one of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band’s longest serving members, having joined the band in 1988 at the age of just 13. In Brian’s time with the band, he has been a part of every single major championship win since the band’s first major prize at Cowal in 1990, raking up 36 major titles and six World Championships in the process. Brian’s name is synonymous with the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band and he served as the band’s pipe sergeant for many years.

In addition to having spent the last twenty years dedicated to the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, Brian is also highly successful in his career and works as a Senior Branch Manager in Nationwide Building Society in Belfast. But it is parenting which will provide the newest challenge for Brian, and both he and Laura are enjoying getting to know their first child. For Jack, in addition to having a piping father, mum Laura Martin is a flautist in the champion Ballylone Concert Flute Band, and with any luck it won’t be long until Jack picks up his first instrument.

Jack made his debut in Lisburn at the European Championships and was hugely popular with everyone he met! Congratulations to Brian and Laura from the whole band.

FMMPB Travels to Ennis for the All-Irelands

FMM pipers at the All Ireland Championships

Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band travelled to Ennis, County Clare, for the All-Ireland Pipe Band Championships on Saturday 5 July, 2008. It was a strange day, with the weather changing between hot and humid sunshine to pouring rain in the march-past and in smaller spurts throughout the day. The band was lucky that it was able to prepare in the good weather leading up to the March, Strathspey & Reel competition, however in the last five minutes before going on, the rain began.

The band drew its number two competition set, Pipe Major Tom McAlistair, Susan MacLeod & Charlie’s Welcome and despite the rain gained two firsts in piping for the MSR. Conditions were much drier for the Medley which followed 45 minutes later and was own choice selection.

FMM drummers warm up at the All Ireland Championships

Following the difficult circumstances at the British Championships the weekend before, the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band were delighted to have left the field happy with two very solid performances. In the end, the band came second in the competition after loosing out by a single point, but managed to win the award for Best Piping with three out of four first place marks. The band’s next appearance is the European Championships in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, on Saturday, 26 July.

Bad Luck in Birmingham for Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band

It was a remarkable, but unfortunate day for Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band at the British Pipe Band Championships in Birmingham on Saturday 29 June, 2008. The contest was the second major championship of the season and the agreeable venue and excellent weather conditions provided a good start for FMM and the many other bands throughout the grades. Unfortunately, a turn of extreme bad luck, and a leaky pipe bag, rendered Pipe Major Richard Parkes unable to play in the competition.

After calling the band to attention and giving the orders for attack, upon trying to strike in, Richard was unable to inflate the bag as a drone stock had become loose between the final tuning and competition arenas. Remarkably, despite Richard not being able to play and the obvious concern this caused within the band’s ranks, the Field Marshal Montgomery still managed to put in an excellent performance of its number two March, Strathspey & Reel set, Pipe Major Tom McAllister, Susan MacLeod & Charlie’s Welcome. After some pipe bag surgery, Richard led the band on for the finale.

Richard and the band would like to warmly thank all those in the pipe band fraternity who expressed empathy with the band’s mishap on the day. As a fellow Grade 1 bandsman put it, “It’s nice to know Richard is human after all”.

The band looks forward to next week’s All-Ireland Championships in Ennis, County Clare with 21 sets of secure bagpipe stocks.

Battle of the Elements in Banbridge

Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band fenced in by umbrellas in a cold and wet Banbridge

Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band had to battle the elements at the County Down Championships in Banbridge, Northern Ireland on Saturday 21 June, 2008. Torrential rain and freezing cold winds created almost unbearable conditions for all the bands participating on the day. Temperatures dropped as low as 8 degrees Celsius, with a significant wind chill factor to add to the incessant rain.

The band marched through the elements The contest usually includes both a March, Strathspey & Reel competition as well as a Medley competition and is helpful as a pre-run before the British Championships the weekend following. However, due to the terrible conditions, the Grade 1 Medley contest was cancelled altogether to the great relief of bandsmen across the grade and a single MSR contest was proposed instead.

All four bands in the Grade 1 competition spent the run up to the contest huddled underneath tents and trees and the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band was able to tune up for less than 10 minutes before going on; a unanimous trend across the grade. The band drew their number one March Strathspey & Reel: Highland Wedding, Blair Drummond & Pretty Marion and finished second overall. Many commented that they hadn’t experienced worse conditions since the European Championships in Belfast in 2002, famed for hosting the worst weather conditions at any major championship in recent times. All competing bands deserve a congratulations for their perseverance, as does the RSPBA for doing their best to make the most of the conditions.

There was however something positive to be taken away from the day, which was that Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band’s long serving band president Billy Maxwell, as well as sound assistant Frank Andrews, both received lifetime achievement awards from the County Down section of the Northern Ireland Branch of the RSBPA. As original pipe major of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, Billy led the band for years and had a huge impact on the piping and drumming scene in Northern Ireland. Frank Andrews is one of the pipe band scene’s greatest gentlemen and was pipe major of the McNeillstown Pipe Band for 30 years, 20 of which were spent in Grade 1, where he captured four All-Ireland titles and numerous other prizes during his tenure. Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band is proud to see both men honoured and would like to thank both not only for their contributions to the pipe band scene in Northern Ireland, but also to the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band in particular.

The band is due to compete next weekend at the British Championships in Birmingham, England, where with any luck the weather will improve for all the bands travelling south.

FMMPB Announces the Official DVD Release of REWIND:REPLAY

After months of anticipation, it is with great pride that Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band announces the official release of their first ever DVD on Monday 9 June, 2008. Entitled REWIND:REPLAY, the DVD is the video release of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band’s celebrated RE:CHARGED concert, performed live at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in August, 2007. Thousands of copies of RE:CHARGED have already been sold across the world and now with the release of REWIND:REPLAY, the wait is over for the band’s DVD debut.

The new DVD showcases the RE:CHARGED concert in full, using creative camera work to display the band from multiple angles, with close-ups of band players, sections and clips of the band as a whole to create a truly diverse and entertaining viewing experience. The DVD also presents concert sets not captured on the CD which won’t have been seen or heard since they were performed live last August. In line with the theme of the concert, REWIND:REPLAY incorporates additional features which help tell the story of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band’s history. Included are interviews with Pipe Major Richard Parkes MBE, Drum Sergeant Keith Orr, Band President Billy Maxwell, some of the band’s previous Pipe Majors and Leading Drummers over the years and past band members, who speak first hand about the band’s modest beginnings and its subsequent rise to success over the decades.

REWIND:REPLAY presents the 6 time World Champion Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band live in concert at its very best. For music, entertainment, history, nostalgia, and ultimately for an unbeatable display of piping and drumming at its finest, REWIND:REPLAY is a must have buy for all.

You can order your copy here from Monday 9 June, 2008.

Gordon McCready Wins Markinch

It was another aggregate solo victory for FMM piper Gordon McCready at Markinch Highland Games on Sunday 1 June, 2008. The contest in Markinch, Fife, saw over 30 open competitors play in fairly wet conditions.

Gordon won the Piobaireachd and finished 5th in the March, Strathspey & Reel to clinch the aggregate title. Band member Andrew Carlisle also featured well, where he finished second in the Piobaireachd behind Gordon. Congratulations to both band members for their well earned results.

New Family Additions for FMMPB Members

Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band is proud to report that two of its members are celebrating the births of two new children. Pipers John Revilles and Scott Drummond welcomed the birth of a daughter and son respectively, to their young families.

Piper John Revilles of County Waterford has been a member of Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band for seven years now, having joined the band in 2002. Working as Operational Regional Manager for National Railway Operating Company in Dublin, John has found time to progress his career as well as enjoying the band’s many successes over the years, winning every major championship with the band multiple times, including four World Championship titles. This is put into greater perspective as John travels the long commute to band practice twice a week from his home in Leixlip, County Kildare, just outside of Dublin. John and his wife Caroline recently welcomed the birth of baby daughter Saoirse, which means 'freedom' in Irish. She was born on 19 April in “The Coombe” Women’s Hospital in Dublin, weighing a healthy seven pounds two ounces. She now joins older sister Aoife in the Revilles family, who celebrated her second birthday the weekend of Dumbarton. John notes that only last Sunday, Aoife picked up a practice chanter for the first time and says that perhaps she will break into the FMM pipe corps in the distant future!

Piper Scott Drummond also recently welcomed a new baby to his family. Scott first joined Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band in 1998 and was one of the original “commuting” members of the band, travelling from his home in Bathgate, Scotland, to Northern Ireland for band practices and contests. Scott holds a BSc Honours degree in Building Engineering and works as an engineer building houses. A well known piper on the solo scene, Scott’s name has featured in a long series of major prize lists over the years, including winning the coveted Silver Medal at Inverness in 1997 for Piobaireachd, and the 'A' Grade March at Inverness in 1996. As a band player, his personality and reputation for having consistently excellent pipes amongst other things have made him a critical addition to the band for many years. Scott’s baby son was born on 8 May at St. John’s Hospital in Livingston, Scotland. Christopher Colin Drummond weighed in at 6 pounds 1 ounce and joins his older sisters Caitlin who is 5 and Rebecca at 3. Mother Annabel and baby Christopher are both doing well.

Congratulations to both John and Scott from all at the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band.

FMMPB Pipers Shine at Blair Atholl

Blair Castle Following the first major championship of the 2008 pipe band season, the first outdoor contest for the 2008 solo season was held in Blair Atholl, Scotland, on Sunday 25 May, 2008. The contest is one of the biggest outdoor events of the season for solo pipers, and this drew over 54 open competitors to the event. The open competition was so big this year that it needed to be broken down into heats with a final. With so many of Scotland’s top competitors arriving to compete, it makes the high placings of pipers from the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band even more impressive.

FMM piper Gordon McCready finished 3rd in the 'A' Grade Piobaireachd, 4th in the Open March, Strathspey & Reel and won 1st in the Open Hornpipe & Jig. FMM Pipe Sergeant Alastair Dunn finished 4th in the Piobaireachd, won 1st in the March, Strathspey & Reel and finished 4th in the Hornpipe & Jig. Such high results across all events earned Gordon McCready the award as best piper overall to win Blair Atholl, with Alastair finishing close behind in overall points.

FMMPB Enjoys Sunny Skies at Scottish Championships

Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band at final tuning in Levengrove Park, Dumbarton Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band enjoyed sunny weather at the Scottish Championships on Saturday 24 May, 2008. The contest, held at Dumbarton’s Levengrove Park, was the first major championship of the 2008 season. Last year’s gale force winds at the Scottish Championships in 2007 had proved a bad omen for a full season of poor weather and with any luck, the good start to the year will follow through for all of 2008.

The contest saw an entry of 167 bands, with 12 bands competing in Grade 1. Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band were seventh on, and drew their number two medley selection. The band finished in third place overall.

The next performance for FMMPB will be the County Down Championships in Banbridge, which will be held on Saturday 21 June, 2008.

FMMPB Begins 2008 with a Win

Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band takes to the competition circle for the first time in 2008

Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band won the first contest of the 2008 season on Saturday 17 May, 2008. The contest was held in Banbridge, County Down, and was a replacement contest for the Malahide competition which the band has played at for the previous ten years. Many of Northern Ireland’s pipe bands across the grades agreed to participate in the contest as a first run out for the season. The weather was overcast and cold, but luckily remained dry for the duration of the day.

The band played their new medley for the first time and in addition to new material, the day was also a good initiation for a number of new players throughout the ranks. In addition to taking home first prize, Keith’s Orr’s drum corps also finished first in drumming, all a good start in preparation for the Scottish Championships next weekend in Dumbarton, Scotland.

FMM Members Excel in Spring Solos

Pipers and drummers from the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band performed well this spring in solo contests at home and abroad. At home, the Ulster Solo Championships held in Monkstown on 19 April proved a success for FMM members across the boards. In the Senior Piping, Jonathan Greenlees won the Piobaireachd, finished second in the March Strathspey & Reel and was second in the Hornpipe & Jig, with Andrew Carlisle finishing third in all three events. FMM drummers surfaced on the prize lists as well, with Gavin Noade and Philip Bell finishing second and third in the Senior Drumming. New band member Aaron McLean won the Junior Drumming, with Gareth McLees finishing second.

The Irish Silver Medal competition, held in Limerick on 26 April, also saw strong results from FMM members. Andrew Carlisle and Jonathan Greenlees, both winners of the Irish Silver Medal in previous years, finished strongly in the former winners Piobaireachd, with Andrew winning first place and Jonathan finishing second.

Alex Gandy (right) celebrates with his father, Bruce Gandy Alex Gandy performed well in sunny California, where he won the Cameron Gillies section of the Dr Dan Reid Memorial in San Francisco on 10 May. The competition is an invitational event, split into a Masters section for the world’s top senior players, and the Cameron Gillies section for promising up and coming young players. Alex won the Cameron Gillies Piobaireachd, March, Strathspey and Reel, and finished second in the 6/8 March.

Congratulations to all band members for their successes.

FMM Pipers Perform in Piping Centre Quartet

The National Piping Centre Four members of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band put on a top notch performance on Thursday 17 April, 2008 at the National Piping Centre in Glasgow.

The quartet was made up of four pipers residing in Scotland and included Pipe Sergeant Alastair Dunn, Donald MacPhee, Gordon McCready and Michael Fitzhenry.

The National Piping Centre presents recitals on a monthly basis, always featuring high quality performances from prominent soloists. The Field Marshal Montgomery line-up for this recital gave the audience the opportunity to listen to some world class solo piping from the band's world champion pipe corps.

Each piper prepared a twenty minute solo spot and played from their own person repertoire, before performing together as a finale. The quartet included many of the favourite sets from the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band’s recent RE:CHARGED CD, released last December.

80 years for FMM President Billy Maxwell

Billy Maxwell is presented with a comemorative gift from the band by Pipe Major Richard Parkes MBE It was with respect, admiration, and thanks that members of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, along with family and friends, gathered together for a night of appreciation for Billy Maxwell on Friday 4 April, 2008.

Billy is well known to many as the first ever Pipe Major of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band in 1949 and one of the founding members from those formative years.

Billy led the band through its early beginnings and achieved great success in the early years. However Billy’s dedication has extended far beyond his role as Pipe Major and he has remained involved with the band for 59 years and still serves as Band President today.

The evening in honour of Billy, held at the Hydebank Social Club in Belfast, included band members from both past and present. Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band performed as a tribute to Billy and past FMM members even formed a band for a short performance. Billy was presented with two framed photos of the band and a decanter and FMM piper Gordon McCready also presented a framed copy of the tune he composed especially for him.

Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band would like to congratulate Billy on his 80th birthday and most importantly, to thank him for a lifetime of service to the band. Billy’s enthusiasm and dedication over 59
years has touched countless individuals, who will always think of P/M Billy Maxwell as defining of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band.

FMMPB Adds Banbridge to Competition Schedule

Programme of events for Banbridge Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band was disappointed to learn of the last minute cancelation of the annual pipe band competition in Malahide, County Dublin.

For the past decade, the band had used Malahide as a strategic first run for the season, due to its timely proximity to the Scottish Pipe Band Championships the following weekend.

The Country Down section has quickly put together another contest to replace Malahide, which will take place outdoors in Banbridge on the 17th of May. The contest will be for all grades and drum majors and
will provide many bands with the vital first run out.

Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band is happy to compete and have updated their competition schedule to include this change.

Congratulations to FMM Drummer Philip Bell

Congratulations are extended to Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band drummer Philip Bell, who was married last Saturday 22 March, 2008.

Philip has been a member of FMM’s drum corps for 8 years, playing under both Andy Scullion and Keith Orr, and has been a part of the team that has won four World Championships amongst numerous other titles. A keen solo competitor, Philip has on two occasions finished amongst the top 12 drummers at the World Drumming Solos and is a regular on the Irish solo scene.

He and his wife Heather Smith were married at Dromara Presbyterian Church, with a reception held afterwards at the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle, Co. Down. Their wedding party integrated familiar figures from the pipe band scene, including former FMM member Glen Cupples as groomsman and wedding piper, and drummer Trevor Smith as best man, also Heather’s brother. Congratulations to the new Mr and Mrs Bell from the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band.

FMM Pipers Sweep Seven Towers Solos

Kris Coyle Pipers from the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band came out on top at the Seven Towers Solo Championships in Ballymena, County Antrim last Saturday.

The contest was held at Ballee High School and was the first solo contest of the Northern Ireland solo season. With over 100 entries, the event was well attended, especially given its early start in the year. It was a fantastic day for Kris Coyle who finished top of the pack to win the Senior Piping, especially given that the event was his first ever senior contest after finishing first in the Intermediate Piping at the All Ireland Solos last September.

Runner up was Jonathan Greenlees, with third place going to Andrew Carlisle. Congratulations to Kris on his win and to all the pipers from FMM on taking the top three places.

Alastair Dunn Does Well in the Big Apple

Alastair Dunn competing at the Metro Cup FMM Pipe Sergeant Alastair Dunn did well at the Metro Cup on 16 February, 2008 held in New York, USA. The 12 competitor invitation-only event has grown greatly in stature since it first began, and now attracts top players from across the world. The competition format includes a Piobaireachd competition, along with a medley of a competitor’s own choice as an unusual supplement of the standard March, Strathspey & Reel and/or Hornpipe & Jig solo competition format. With gold medalists and Glenfiddich champions on the order of play, Alastair’s results are excellent. He finished 4th in the Piobaireachd, playing “My King had Landed in Moidart” and his own choice medley saw him gain 2nd place.

Far from the serious competition was another event, a “You Be The Judge” entertainment competition, where Alastair and his wife Margaret joined company as a duet to sway the crowd vote in their favour, coming out on top of other entertaining double teams to make it a very successful trip abroad.

Fantastic Reviews for FMM’s RE:CHARGED

FMM’s RE:CHARGED album, recorded live last August and released just before the New Year, has received tremendous reviews and feedback from critics and fans across the world. The album was named pipes|drums 2007 Pipe Band Recording of the Year, and when recently reviewed for pipes|drums by esteemed reedmaker and judge Jamie Troy, received the full “five gracenotes” for superb quality; a perfect score!Jamie calls Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band “one of the most exciting, consistent and certainly the most dominant pipe band in recent years.” He writes that “the blending of the drones and tuning of the chanters is just overwhelming. The pipe sound is extremely full, well-balanced and powerful,” and that “the style, thought and refined technique in each tune is superb.” Commenting on Keith Orr’s drum corps, he comments on the “pristine drum salute and crisp drum sound, ”and notes that “the drum corps provides great accompaniment with their snappy drum scores and smartly used mid-section.”

He continues, “Superlatives can only begin to convey what this band has achieved over the last few years. FMM is extremely good at presenting tunes in a refined manner, never swaying from the reason we're all listening in the first place: good music. No gimmicks here folks; this is pure championship pipe band from start to finish.”

“Richard has tuning down to a science, and to keep this sound for an entire concert is, in my mind, as close to perfect as it gets.” He finishes, “I would suggest pulling up your favourite chair in front your stereo system, grab a Guinness, sit back and drink in the experience of the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band at their very best.”

“As close to perfect as it gets,” is the reason why RE:CHARGED is being celebrated in pipe band circles across the world. To read the full review, please follow the link, reproduced with the kind permission of pipes|drums.

Click here to read the full review.

Dunn And Carlisle in Good Form in Limerick

FMM pipers Alastair Dunn and Andrew Carlisle were in good form on 2 February, 2008, when they took the top prizes in Limerick at the 11th annual Irish Piobaireachd Society Championships.

23 pipers were in contention, where Alastair Dunn won the Former Winners Piobaireachd with “McNab’s Salute” and Andrew Carlisle finishing in third place. Andrew came out on top of the Former Winners March Strathspey & Reel event with Alastair finishing a close second, and in the end was named the overall winner and recipient of the Bratach De Paor. Congratulations to both pipers from the band.

Andrew Carlisle Wins Gordon Duncan Memorial

Andrew Carlsile receiving his winner's award at the Gordon Duncan Memorial Solos Piper Andrew Carlisle was the first FMM solo prize winner of 2008, becoming the second ever winner of the Gordon Duncan Memorial Invitational Solo Piping Competition.

The event was held on 26 January, 2008 at the Central Hotel in Glasgow in conjunction with Celtic Connections and of course was in honour of the late Gordon Duncan.

The contest format consists of a Breton, Scottish and Irish section, in which three players each from Brittany, Scotland and Ireland represented their countries to compete for the overall. The winning piper not only has to be the best in his own familiar discipline, but has to be the best across all three musical genres to win.

Andrew not only came first in the Irish section, but he finished second in the Scottish March, Strathspey & Reel event and high enough with his Breton set to secure the win.

Congratulations to Andrew for coming out on top above some of the best solo pipers around.

FMM Ready For 2008

After a busy and successful 2007 for Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, the band is happy to announce its Schedule of events for 2008. 2007 marked one of the most memorable seasons for the band, with another World Championship title, becoming RSPBA Champion of Champions once again, and producing RE:CHARGED, the band’s most recent live album.

As 2008 approached, FMMPB received the pipes|drums 2007 New Year’s Honours for both “Band of The Year,” as well as RE:CHARGED being named “Pipe Band Recording of the Year.” pipes|drums reported that Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band was “the unanimous choice of every one of our 12 panelists, Field Marshal captured its sixth World Championship and another Champion of Champions title, while staging the Glasgow concert in August, cutting a live record, and setting yet another benchmark for pipe-section tone.” They also noted a few comments from their panel which included, "Fantastic consistency, fantastic performance at the World's and a great concert!" "The class of the World's," "Winning majors with ease. Sounded like a higher-grade band than other prize winners at British and European. Concert, sponsorship, new uniforms, CD and DVD, and that great, great bagpipe sound. Brilliant." "Dominant!" "The best competing band, full stop."

Click here to view the full award.

2008 will once again see Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band compete in all five major championships, as well as six minor contests on the Northern Ireland competition circuit. Although a quieter season than last, eleven contests and the upcoming release of the RE:CHARGED DVD will see the band kept as busy as ever as they prepare for May, and ultimately for August, when they will once again defend their World title in Glasgow.

© Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band - Sponsored by The St Kilda Group
Design by Hot Stuff Web Design & Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band Business Team

Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy