Nelson Volunteers Sought for National Pipe Band Champs

An invasion pipers and drummers is lined up to march on Nelson and a plea for assistance is being made to help host the kilted visitors.

The Royal New Zealand Pipe Band Association’s National Championships will be held in Nelson on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th of March at Trafalgar Park.

The highly prestigious event has attracted 48 bands from around New Zealand and Australia with more than 2-thousand musicians, officials and supporters in the city for the weekend. A highlight will be the awesome spectacle of the Saturday street march, where each band will parade playing their own competition tunes.

Nationals Liaison Officer Helen Gilchrist says, “Bringing the event together has been an enormous enterprise for the local committee which is made up of some members of Celtic Pipe Band’s executive, plus additional interested experienced volunteers.”

“It’s been an massive task, with the organising committee on the job for the past for two years and now as the competition draws near more volunteers are needed.”

Helen says, “Nelson has hosted the event twice in the past and many people have fond memories of the massed pipes.”

Assistance is needed in a variety of areas including marshalling for the Street March as well as setting up prior to, and then cleaning up after the competition.

“We are also in need of local people interested in acting as community liaison to the visiting bands. These people don’t necessarily need to know anything about pipe banding, but are interested in making each band’s Nelson experience a positive one. The role is about being available to answer questions or queries, and being a contact person for that particular band. Visiting the band on their arrival is also a nice touch.”

The Nelson region has three competing bands this year. The Celtic Pipe Band Grade 3 Band which is currently ranked first in New Zealand and the City of Nelson Highland Pipe Band, also competing in Grade 3. A new local entry to competition this year will be the Celtic Pipe Band Development Band, entered in Grade 4B.

Helen Gilchrist says “We are really excited about the competition and it would be fantastic to see Nelsonians out supporting their local bands.”

If you would like to help out in any way please call or email Helen Gilchrist: 03 5474594, 021 277 3752, or helencgilchrist@gmail.com

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